Battery Production

The Chinese battery manufacturer CALB has unveiled a solid-liquid hybrid battery for light commercial vehicles at a trade show in Hefei on March 28. According to the company, the battery is already in mass production. It is intended for use in light commercial vehicles manufactured by Chery Automobile. This marks the first time that semi-solid-state technology has been adopted more broadly in the light commercial vehicle segment. This technological approach combines solid and liquid electrolyte components, representing an intermediate step toward fully solid-state batteries. Higher Energy Density Increases Payload CALB reports an energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram for the cells. This enables a reduction in battery weight, which directly improves the payload capacity of light commercial vehicles. According to the manufacturer, the battery has passed 44 safety tests, including evaluations for thermal runaway, fire, and mechanical stress. These tests reportedly exceed current Chinese safety standards. During charging, the system supports 2C fast charging. The state of charge can reportedly increase from 30 to 80 percent in 15 minutes. CALB also highlights the battery’s performance at low temperatures. They claim that the range at minus 25 degrees Celsius is more than 20 percent greater than that of conventional batteries. Additionally, continuous discharge at 1C is specified. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/03/30/semi-solid-battery-adoption-light-trucks-calb-launch/

Ultium Cells, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is converting its Spring Hill plant to manufacture lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for energy storage systems. The company is investing approximately $70 million in the conversion of the production facilities. Production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The company has not provided specific details on the share of future LFP production relative to the plant’s total output. They merely state that the facilities are currently being retrofitted and the workforce is being trained accordingly. Focus on Stationary Energy Storage The LFP cells produced in Spring Hill will be supplied to LG Energy Solution’s U.S. energy storage division. There, the cells will be processed into complete storage systems for use in North America in applications such as power grids and data centers. LG Energy Solution cites rising demand for energy storage systems as the reason for this focus. LFP cells are considered more cost-effective than nickel-based batteries for this application. In stationary applications, weight and installation space play a lesser role, bringing other criteria to the forefront.  The company plans to increase its global production capacity for energy storage batteries to over 60 GWh this year. Over 80 percent of this capacity is expected to be located in North America. Source:https://www.ultiumcell.com/newsroom/latest-news/2026/03/17/Ultium-Cells-Spring-Hill-Diversifies-Production-with-LFP-Batteries-for-Energy-Storage-Systems

Canadian battery manufacturer NextStar Energy has officially inaugurated its 3.5-billion-dollar, 393,000-square-meter factory in Windsor, Canada.

Canadian company NEO Battery Materials has acquired a production site covering 5,400 square meters in South Korea to manufacture batteries for drone applications.

For the first time since its inception, the Battery-News platform has surpassed the 50,000 follower mark on the social media portal LinkedIn.

The European Commission is planning new requirements in the form of low carbon emissions and “Made in Europe” criteria for various industrial sectors.

The Korean battery manufacturer LG Energy Solution Vertech and the South Korean photovoltaic manufacturer Qcells have announced a multi-year agreement for battery storage with a total capacity of five gigawatt hours in the U.S. The deal covers lithium-ion energy storage systems for utility-scale projects. Implementation is planned for Qcells’ EPC projects between 2028 and 2030. Additionally, LG Energy Solution Vertech will provide lifecycle services for the installed systems. In May 2024, Qcells signed battery purchase agreements with LG Energy Solution Vertech for 4.8 gigawatt hours. The new agreement doubles the secured volume. The systems are based on containerized lithium-ion solutions with LFP cells. According to LG Energy Solution, these cells are manufactured in U.S. plants, including one in Holland, Michigan. LG Energy Solution produces up to 16.5 gigawatt hours of storage cells there per year. By the end of 2026, the company expects to increase capacity in North America to around 50 gigawatt hours. Source:https://news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/4563/

PEM of RWTH Aachen University and VDMA have published their fifth edition of the “Production Process of a Lithium-Ion Battery Cell” guide intended for the entire industry.