Battery Production

The Japanese automotive supplier AESC has begun mass producing its large-format 46120 cylindrical cells. These battery cells are intended to power several models from the BMW Group based on its “New Class” platform. AESC cites the all-electric BMW iX5 as the first model to use these cells. The cells have a diameter of 46 millimeters and a height of 120 millimeters. According to AESC, this increases the usable energy per cell by nearly 30 percent compared to earlier formats. The reduced number of components in the battery pack is also expected to simplify system integration. This gives vehicle manufacturers more flexibility in integrating the battery into the vehicle. Cell Chemistry for Large Electric SUVs AESC is positioning the 46120 cell format primarily for premium electric vehicles and larger SUV models. The cells use a high-nickel cathode and a silicon-doped anode. The energy density is specified at up to 310 Wh/kg. Mass production is set to take place using state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Production lines are reportedly equipped with more than 1,000 CCD inspection points. Additionally, each cell undergoes X-ray testing to detect foreign objects. According to the company, a magnetically mounted, high-speed transfer and positioning system enables dimensional accuracy of up to 0.01 millimeters. Source:https://www.aesc-group.com/newsInfo?id=AESC+Starts+Mass+Production+of+46120+Large+Cylindrical+Batteries+to+Support+BMW+Group%E2%80%99s+Neue+Klasse+Platform

The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has unveiled a new battery designed for light electric commercial vehicles. The “Tectrans-II” is designed for fast charging and is intended primarily for logistics applications. According to CATL, the battery can reach an 80 percent state of charge in just 6 minutes and 48 seconds. A full charge takes eight minutes and 56 seconds. Focus on Logistics and Short Downtime The company cites slow charging, limited battery life, reduced performance in winter, and insufficient power output at charging stations as key challenges for electric light-duty logistics vehicles. The new battery is designed to address these issues. CATL backs the battery with a warranty of up to ten years or one million kilometers. This is intended to bring the battery’s lifespan closer to that of the vehicle. According to CATL, the internal resistance of the cells is only half the industry average. This is expected to generate less heat during fast charging. The company also mentions a modified graphite particle interface. This modification is intended to reduce active lithium loss and slow aging. At low temperatures, CATL cites an additional charging time of two minutes and thirty seconds at minus twenty degrees Celsius. Charging Infrastructure Remains Crucial Alongside battery development, CATL is establishing an integrated network of ultra-fast charging and battery swap stations. These so-called “Choco Stations” are designed to support both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The stations will be equipped with customized fast-charging stations featuring extended cables for microvans and light trucks, among other things. This is intended to eliminate the need for drivers to maneuver their vehicles to charge. According to CATL, the company plans to install 4,000 of these stations in nearly 190 Chinese cities this year. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/07/06/catl-unveils-tectrans-ii-battery/

With support from Samsung SDI, Forge Nano is planning to build a battery factory in Morrisville, North Carolina. The facility is expected to have an annual capacity of three gigawatt-hours and begin production in 2028. Samsung SDI will assist with construction and the launch of operations. The factory will produce both Samsung SDI and Forge Nano cell products. As part of the agreement, there is also a conditional supply contract. According to the terms of this contract, Samsung SDI will purchase battery cells from the planned facility beginning in 2028, provided the stipulated conditions are met. Additionally, Forge Nano will act as an authorized distributor of Samsung SDI cells in the U.S. market. Investment with DOE Funding Forge Nano estimates the factory’s cost at between $300 and $330 million. Of this amount, $100 million will be covered by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The facility is intended primarily to serve non-consumer automotive, industrial, and defense applications.  Samsung SDI is also working to incorporate Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor technology into future battery products. Forge Nano describes Atomic Armor as a nanoscale coating system based on atomic layer deposition technology. Source:https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/06/25/3317520/0/en/forge-nano-forms-landmark-strategic-partnership-with-samsung-sdi-to-enable-u-s-production-of-advanced-battery-cells.html?hss_channel=lcp-12907090

The 9th International Battery Production Conference (IBPC) has extended the deadline for submitting abstracts. Abstracts can now be submitted via the official submission page until July 10, 2026. The conference will take place on November 4 and 5, 2026, at the Steigenberger Parkhotel in Braunschweig. It will focus on technical and scientific issues related to battery production. Call for Technical Papers on Battery Production The call for abstracts is aimed at experts from research and industry who wish to present their current work on battery production. According to the organizers, topics will include next-generation battery systems, sustainable production processes, process optimization in lithium-ion battery manufacturing, recycling, and modeling and AI-supported production approaches. IBPC Returns to Braunschweig in 2026 The IBPC is organized by Innovationsgesellschaft Technische Universität Braunschweig mbH in collaboration with partners from the BLB+ network, the Technical University of Braunschweig, and Fraunhofer IST. The event is also held in cooperation with VDMA Battery Production. It is designed as an international platform for the exchange of ideas on battery production. The conference brings together stakeholders from academia, industry, and applied research. Further information is available on the International Battery Production Conference’s official website.

According to Meng Xiangfeng, vice president of CATL, the battery plant established by Ford and CATL in the U.S. was completed in June and has begun production. It is not a joint venture, but rather a licensing and service model. Ford owns the plant and CATL provides the technology for lithium iron phosphate cells, as well as support for construction and operation. Ford had originally announced in February 2023 that it would invest $3.5 billion in the Michigan plant. At that time, the planned annual capacity was 35 gigawatt-hours, intended to produce batteries for approximately 400,000 electric vehicles. However, the project was temporarily halted following political pressure. In November 2023, Ford resumed planning, reducing the investment and capacity to $2 billion and 20 gigawatt-hours, respectively. Part of Capacity intended for Energy Storage According to Caixin, the core of the LFP project with CATL remains intact. However, based on current plans, some of the capacity will be allocated to energy storage products.  In mid-June, Ford announced that the first prismatic LFP cells had undergone full-scale process testing at the plant. The cells are currently being validated according to CATL specifications. The first vehicle batteries are scheduled to be delivered later this year. They are intended for use in Ford’s affordable and midsize electric pickup models. Ford also plans to convert an existing plant to produce stationary storage systems based on CATL technology. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/30/ford-catl-backed-battery-plant-completed/

The Luxembourg-based nanotube specialist OCSiAl has signed a supply agreement with Volkswagen Group’s battery division, PowerCo. As part of this partnership, OCSiAl will provide PowerCo with single-walled carbon nanotubes for its Unified Cell battery platform. The materials are intended for PowerCo’s plant in Salzgitter. According to the company, the nanotubes will be used in graphite anodes. OCSiAl describes the nanotubes as conductive additives. They are designed to increase the electrical conductivity of graphite anodes and improve heat dissipation. The company cites benefits such as improved charging and discharging performance, increased safety, and a longer service life for the battery cells.  Supply from European production The shipments are planned to come from the OCSiAl plant in Serbia. This would mean that part of the procurement of critical battery materials would take place within Europe. According to OCSiAl, the site has met all quality and reliability requirements and has been audited by PowerCo. Other battery manufacturers from Europe and Asia are said to have also conducted audits. OCSiAl markets its single-walled carbon nanotubes under the TUBALL brand. The company claims to supply most European manufacturers of batteries for electric vehicles. These materials are used in both the cathode and anode systems of lithium-ion batteries. OCSiAl notes that approximately one million electric vehicles already contain its nanotubes. In November 2025, the company announced plans to build a graphene nanotube plant in Luxembourg. The investment is expected to total 300 million U.S. dollars. Source:https://ocsial.com/de/news/ocsial-to-supply-single-wall-carbon-nanotubes-to-powercos-salzgitter-facility/

U.S. company Lyten reportedly plans to pay 60 million euros for the site of insolvent battery manufacturer Northvolt near Heide in the Dithmarschen district. This was reported by Der Spiegel and the dpa news agency. There has not yet been any official confirmation. According to the reports, an agreement is said to have been reached with the KfW development bank, the German federal government and the Schleswig-Holstein state government. The Economics Ministry in Kiel is currently cautious in its response. A spokesperson said the state government remains in talks with Lyten. Next week, the state cabinet and two state parliamentary committees are expected to address the matter. Until then, the state government does not intend to provide further information. The possible purchase price is politically relevant because the federal government and the state had to assume liability for a convertible bond after the insolvency of Northvolt’s parent company. The bond had a volume of 600 million euros and was backed equally by the federal government and Schleswig-Holstein. Site plans remain smaller than Northvolt’s Northvolt had originally announced plans to build a battery factory near Heide. At the time, about 3,000 jobs were discussed. After the parent company became insolvent, Schleswig-Holstein faced estimated losses of around 200 million euros. Lyten expressed interest in the site in the summer of 2025. According to previous information, the company plans to build a battery cell factory, a battery storage facility and a data center there. The expected number of jobs is 1,000, well below Northvolt’s earlier plans. As part of the planned takeover, the federal government and the state have already been able to secure 153 million euros. A sale of the property could bring in an additional mid-double-digit million-euro amount for the federal government and the state. Source:https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/batteriefabrik-lyten-will-offenbar-60-millionen-euro-zahlen,lyten-140.html

At its 2026 Energy Storage Event, CATL unveiled their new “Tener Sodium” system. The battery manufacturer describes it as the world’s first sodium battery solution for stationary energy storage that has been validated under real-world conditions. According to CATL, preparations for mass production are complete. The first deliveries in China are scheduled to begin in September. The company expects to deliver 1 GWh by the end of 2026. Global commercial deliveries are planned to begin in June of the following year. “Tener Sodium” is designed for storage applications ranging from one to eight hours. CATL cites a rated capacity of more than 30 MWh. The system is fully modular. Each module weighs 42 metric tons. According to the company, the system can be adapted to different project requirements. It is also said to be dimensionally compatible with lithium-ion battery systems, enabling a seamless transition between the two technologies. Sodium Battery Focused on Efficiency, Lifespan, and Availability CATL specifies a lifespan of 15,000 cycles at 25 °C with a state of health of up to 70 percent. This would correspond to a service life of 25 to 30 years. At 45 °C, the system is said to be capable of more than 10,000 cycles. At -20 °C, the system reportedly retains over 92 percent of its capacity. To ensure operational safety, CATL cites a self-healing function that operates at the millisecond level. Faults are reportedly detected and isolated within 200 milliseconds. Unaffected areas resume operation within 150 milliseconds. CATL also claims that the system can suppress fires and explosions under extreme conditions. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/06/22/catl-unveils-tener-sodium/

The European Commission has formally established the “Battery Booster Facility.” Through this new program, up to €1.5 billion from EU emissions trading revenues will be invested in the European battery industry. The goal is to support battery cell manufacturers as they increase production in Europe. This is the first time the Commission will provide direct support in this sector in the form of interest-free loans. Grants are not planned. According to the Commission, the loan model is intended to contribute to sound capital planning, complement private investment, and help companies achieve economic viability more quickly. Focus on Electric Vehicles and Production in the EEA Eligible projects produce battery technology suitable for electric vehicles. According to the guidelines, these products may also be used for other applications. Production must be located within the European Economic Area. Additionally, a minimum capacity of 10 gigawatt-hours has been set. Loans may not exceed 500 million euros per project. Applications will be evaluated based on technical and financial maturity, as well as economic added value for Europe. The Commission plans to launch a call for proposals in the third quarter of 2026. It is expected to last six weeks. The first project commitments and payments are expected before the end of 2026. The new facility is linked to previous measures by the Innovation Fund. These include a 2024 call for proposals worth one billion euros for electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing, as well as an additional 200 million euros for investments in European battery production. Source:https://climate.ec.europa.eu/news-other-reads/news/new-battery-booster-set-inject-eu15-billion-european-battery-industry-2026-06-09_en