Battery Production

ProLogium has started series production of its Generation 3.5 solid-state battery in Taiwan. The large-format 185.4 Ah lithium ceramic battery cell achieves a gravimetric energy density of 381 Wh/kg, according to TÜV testing. Its volumetric energy density is 903 Wh/L. Manufacturing Platform Has Been in Use for More Than a Decade The technology is based on ProLogium’s Logithium cell architecture. It combines a ceramic separator with an edge structure designed to provide additional separation, sealing, and insulation around the electrodes. ProLogium developed the architecture in 2012 and began commercial production in 2013. Since then, the company says it has shipped more than 2.4 million cells. Continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing followed in 2017. Since 2024, ProLogium has operated a Giga-scale manufacturing platform for large-format cells. Generation 4 to Largely Use Existing Manufacturing Equipment In parallel, ProLogium is developing its Generation 4 technology. It is intended to use a fully inorganic electrolyte while retaining the cell architecture and major manufacturing processes. According to the company’s plans, about 10 percent of the existing production equipment would need to be modified. ProLogium identifies electric vehicles, data centers, maritime applications, and aerospace as target markets. In addition to Taiwan, ProLogium plans production capacity in France and, eventually, North America. Further industrialization will depend on more than energy density and battery classification. Production yield, costs, service life, and reproducible performance data from high-volume manufacturing will also be relevant. Source:https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/02/3354848/0/en/prologium-begins-mass-production-of-high-energy-density-all-solid-state-battery-reaching-381-wh-kg-and-903-wh-l.html

Hungarian authorities have temporarily halted work in three areas of CATL’s plant in Debrecen. The employer had previously identified elevated nickel exposure among nine employees. Authorities also denied an occupancy permit for the second phase of the battery cell production building. The plant is still under construction and has not yet begun producing battery cells, according to Hungary’s Ministry of Regional Development and Public Administration. The Hajdú-Bihar County Government Office is responsible for the inspections. Inspection Finds Deficiencies in Protective Equipment The occupational safety inspection was prompted by the employer’s report of elevated nickel exposure among nine employees. During a subsequent on-site inspection, authorities identified deficiencies in the provision of protective equipment. As a result, work was prohibited in three production areas. The affected operations include equipment for laser cutting cathode and anode foils and for winding these foils. Work in the cell-drying area has also been temporarily suspended. According to the ministry, the restrictions will remain in place until the identified violations have been addressed. Permit for Second Construction Phase Denied At the same time, authorities reviewed the occupancy permits for the battery cell production building. The permit for the first construction phase was granted on August 25, 2026, after the investor submitted the requested additional documentation. The decision for the second construction phase was different. Authorities denied the application on August 19. According to the ministry, the reason was an inaccurate representation of the completed building in the site plan. Source:https://kormanyhivatalok.hu/hirek/vizsgalat-es-elutasitott-engedely-catl-nel

SK On plans to supply LFP battery cells for stationary energy storage systems to NeoVolta Power between 2027 and 2031. The two companies have signed a long-term supply agreement covering a total of 9 GWh. The cells are to be produced at an SK On manufacturing facility in the U.S. Both companies have also agreed on a broader collaboration covering an additional 9 GWh of LFP cells. NeoVolta Power will use these cells to manufacture energy storage packs, which SK On will then purchase. Together, the agreements represent a planned collaboration volume of 18 GWh. Financial details were not disclosed. LFP Pouch Cells for BESS Applications SK On is set to become the primary supplier of LFP pouch cells for NeoVolta Power’s corresponding battery energy storage systems. The initial supply agreement runs from 2027 through 2031. The additional agreement covers the same period. Under this arrangement, NeoVolta Power will manufacture the energy storage packs. The company operates a production facility in Pendergrass, Georgia, designed for higher-volume manufacturing of battery energy storage systems. SK On Expands Beyond EV Batteries For SK On, the agreement represents an expansion of its stationary energy storage business in the U.S. The company has so far focused primarily on high-nickel batteries for electric vehicles. In parallel, it plans to expand its LFP cell business for battery energy storage systems, or BESS. Source:https://askinno.com/global/archives/156861

U.S. battery manufacturer Lyten is the preferred bidder for the business of insolvent Norwegian battery company Morrow Batteries. On August 21, 2026, the bankruptcy estates and creditor Innovation Norway signed a memorandum of understanding with Lyten. On May 6, 2026, the Agder District Court opened bankruptcy proceedings for the three Morrow companies. The proceedings involve Morrow Batteries ASA, Morrow Technologies AS, and Morrow Industrialization Center AS. The proposed transaction is structured as an asset sale intended to keep the business operating. However, the transaction has not yet been finalized. Sale Intended to Keep Morrow Batteries Operating The agreement followed a bidding process involving several interested parties. After negotiations with multiple bidders, Lyten was selected as the preferred bidder. According to Innovation Norway, factors included the expected financial recovery and the feasibility of completing the transaction. Final transaction documents still need to be agreed upon. Lyten Evaluates Industrial Hub in Arendal Lyten is currently evaluating how the facilities in Arendal could be used in the future. The company is considering establishing what it calls an Industrial Hub at the site. This could include battery manufacturing and other activities along the energy storage value chain. Lyten has also identified potential applications related to data centers, mobility, and defense. Source:https://svw.no/lyten-selected-as-preferred-bidder-for-morrow-batteries-business/

Forge Nano is expanding its battery cell manufacturing operations in Morrisville, North Carolina. The site is expected to grow from just under 10,000 to approximately 29,000 square meters. According to the company, annual production capacity could reach up to 3 GWh at full utilization. Production is scheduled to begin in 2028. The project is receiving up to $100 million in support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The expansion is primarily aimed at battery cells for defense, aerospace, and industrial applications. Manufacturing equipment for the expanded battery production facility is expected to be delivered over the next two years. The timeline coincides with new sourcing requirements under the National Defense Authorization Act. These requirements are expected to apply to batteries used in defense applications starting in 2028. Forge Nano is therefore positioning the facility as a domestic source of lithium-ion cells. Samsung SDI Invests in Forge Nano Forge Nano is working with Samsung SDI to establish the expanded production operation. The battery manufacturer is expected to contribute manufacturing and operational expertise for high-volume production. The Morrisville facility is slated to manufacture both Forge Nano cells and Samsung SDI battery cells. Samsung SDI has also entered into a conditional agreement to purchase battery cells starting in 2028. In July, the company invested a total of $20 million in Forge Nano. This consisted of $10 million in Series D financing and $10 million in PIPE financing related to Forge Nano’s planned public listing. The two companies are also working on the potential integration of Forge Nano’s Atomic Armor coating technology into future Samsung SDI batteries. Source:https://ir.forgenano.com/news/news-details/2026/Forge-Nano-Breaks-Ground-on-Americas-Battery-Gigafactory-to-Strengthen-U-S–Defense-Supply-Chains/default.aspx

LG Energy Solution has started production at its new battery plant in Lansing, Michigan. At full capacity, the facility is expected to reach an annual production capacity of more than 35 GWh. The plant manufactures battery cells for stationary energy storage systems and electric vehicles. According to the company, LG Energy Solution has invested more than $2 billion in the site since 2022. The plant currently employs around 900 people. That figure is expected to increase to as many as 1,700 at full capacity. LFP Cells for Stationary Energy Storage In Lansing, LG Energy Solution manufactures large-format lithium iron phosphate cells. Its U.S. subsidiary LG Energy Solution Vertech integrates these cells into complete energy storage systems. The systems are intended for utilities, power grids, and commercial and industrial applications. Detroit-based DTE Energy is among the planned customers. LG Energy Solution plans to have more than 50 GWh of LFP cell production capacity in North America by the end of 2026. The company lists five production sites in the United States and Canada. By then, around 80 percent of LG Energy Solution’s global ESS capacity is expected to be located in North America. NMC Battery Cells for Toyota In addition to LFP cells, the plant produces higher-energy-density nickel-manganese-cobalt cells. These NMC cells are intended for Toyota. They are expected to be used in vehicles including the battery-electric 2027 Toyota Highlander. Source:https://news.lgensol.com/company-news/press-releases/5163/

CATL says it achieved carbon neutrality across its core operations by the end of 2025. The Chinese battery manufacturer aims to make its entire value chain carbon neutral by 2035. The company claims it is the world’s only battery manufacturer with carbon-neutral core operations at TWh-scale production volumes. 20 battery plants certified as carbon neutral According to CATL, 20 battery plants had received ISO 14068-1 certification by the end of 2025. Electricity used for its core operations reportedly came entirely from carbon-neutral sources. Since 2023, CATL says it has used more than 18 billion kWh of carbon-neutral electricity. Energy consumption per unit of output at its battery plants fell 28% compared with 2022. Carbon emissions intensity decreased by around 77% over two years. CATL puts the cumulative avoided emissions at more than 10 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Supply chain moves into focus According to CATL’s calculations, more than 80% of its products’ lifecycle carbon emissions originate in the supply chain. The company says supply-chain emissions are more than five times higher than those from its core operations. CATL uses a platform based on its Carbon Chain Management System to track these emissions. It covers stages from mineral extraction and raw-material processing to component manufacturing. According to the company, the platform contains data from more than 100 key Tier 1 suppliers. Going forward, CATL plans to give greater weight to carbon footprints, renewable energy use, and energy consumption per unit of output when evaluating suppliers. An initial group of 30 key suppliers is participating in an emissions-reduction initiative. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/08/17/catl-core-operations-carbon-neutral-supply-chain-next/

Samsung SDI is acquiring General Motors’ 49.99 percent stake in the joint battery venture “SynergyCells”, becoming the sole owner of the cell plant currently under construction in New Carlisle, Indiana. The South Korean battery manufacturer announced the transaction on Tuesday, confirming an earlier report by Bloomberg. Samsung SDI cited changed market conditions since the joint venture was established, in particular slower-than-expected growth in US electric vehicle demand, as the reason for the restructuring. Partnership was announced 2023 GM and Samsung SDI announced their partnership in April 2023 and finalized the 3.5 billion US dollar joint venture in 2024. The roughly 680-acre site was slated to produce prismatic cells with nickel-rich NCA chemistry under Samsung’s PRiMX brand from 2027, with an initial annual capacity of 27 GWh, expandable to 36 GWh, and more than 1,600 jobs. Missing EV demand Recently, however, the project had stalled: in view of weakening EV demand, the two partners paused construction earlier this year. The building shell has been completed, but no production equipment has been installed so far. According to Bloomberg, GM has invested around 300 million US dollars in developing the site to date. Samsung SDI will complete the plant and produce BESS Samsung SDI now intends to complete the plant on its own and initially produce batteries for stationary energy storage systems (ESS) in order to tap into the fast-growing US storage market. The facility will be the company’s first wholly owned production site in North America. The strategic partnership with GM is set to continue nonetheless, including the joint development of next-generation prismatic cells. GM withdraws from cell manufacturing For GM, the sale marks the latest step in a gradual withdrawal from in-house cell manufacturing capacity: in 2025, the automaker had already divested its stake in the nearly completed Ultium cell plant in Lansing, Michigan, to LG Energy Solution. GM continues to operate two Ultium Cells plants together with LG Energy Solution, where production of LFP cells has recently started as well. SourceReuters, Samsung SDI

Chinese battery manufacturer CALB is overhauling its quality and safety processes following reports of swollen battery cells in GAC Aion vehicles. According to a report by Chinese media outlet Auto Time, the changes affect manufacturing, traceability, and the company’s quality management structure. The overhaul follows the “Banana Battery” controversy, which emerged in July. According to the report, CALB is tightening manufacturing tolerances, expanding moisture monitoring during cell production, and improving the traceability of production batches. The company is also reviewing materials and formulations used in 2022 and 2023 and discontinuing formulations with lower safety margins. Quality Department Gains More Authority CALB is also introducing organizational changes. According to Auto Time, the company’s quality department will have the authority to block production batches that fail to meet internal standards. In addition, CALB has established a dedicated quality team for passenger vehicle customers that will analyze battery management system (BMS) data together with automakers. Response to the “Banana Battery” Controversy The measures follow issues involving 177-Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells used in GAC Aion S vehicles. After accumulating between 150,000 and 300,000 kilometers (93,000 to 186,000 miles), some vehicles reportedly experienced cell swelling, electrolyte leakage, and power loss. GAC Aion subsequently extended the battery warranty for affected vehicles to eight years or 300,000 kilometers (186,000 miles). CALB said it would assume responsibility for battery cell quality. Source:https://cnevpost.com/2026/08/06/calb-banana-battery-quality-overhaul/

Samsung SDI plans to begin production of prismatic lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells for stationary battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the US in October 2026, according to the company. The production line is currently undergoing mass production quality validation, with the first deliveries of the Samsung Battery Box (SBB) 2.0 scheduled before the end of the year. At the same time, Samsung SDI expects demand to exceed available production capacity from 2028 onward. The company announced last year that it aims to establish 30 GWh of annual BESS cell production capacity in the US by the end of 2026. Against this backdrop, Samsung SDI says it is already evaluating options to expand capacity further. Non-FEOC Supply Chain a Key Focus According to Samsung SDI, it has secured LFP cathode materials and other key components through partnerships with suppliers in South Korea and the US to establish a supply chain that complies with US Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC) requirements. The effort follows changes to US tax incentive rules that restrict eligibility for projects using certain imported battery cells. The company says orders received to date already cover a substantial portion of its planned production capacity through 2029. During the second quarter, Samsung SDI also signed long-term supply agreements with US BESS customers, although it did not disclose details. In addition to LFP technology, the company is developing sodium-ion batteries for data centers and large-scale energy storage systems but has not provided a commercialization timeline. Source:https://www.energy-storage.news/samsung-sdi-on-track-with-us-lfp-cell-production-expects-demand-to-outstrip-production/