24M announced its latest innovation in the 24M battery technology set: Liforever. Unique to the 24M SemiSolid battery manufacturing platform, Liforever is a direct material recycling methodology for EV and ESS batteries. Liforever reduces the environmental impact of lithium-ion batteries by making it efficient and cost-effective to recover and reuse... Read more →

SK On will showcase battery cells highlighting advanced fast-charging solutions along with various products demonstrating its latest R&D; achievements at the upcoming InterBattery 2024 battery exhibition in Seoul from March 6 to 8. The original SF (Super Fast) Battery, first introduced in 2021, was a high-nickel battery that can be... Read more →

Altilium will work with Nissan on a project to improve the sustainability of EV batteries manufactured in the UK, using advanced recycling technologies to lower the carbon footprint of new batteries and reduce reliance on imported raw materials. The work is part of a £30-million collaborative project announced by the... Read more →

The UK government is awarding £71.5 million (US$91 million) in combined government and industry investment for automotive R&D; projects to support the development of electric vehicle technology. Nissan Technical Centre Europe will utilize an electric vehicle program to build UK R&D; capability while collaborating with UK partners on further enhancing... Read more →

The BMW Group has begun construction of a manufacturing facility for Gen-5 high-voltage batteries in Thailand. Local BEV production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2025. Local production of high-voltage batteries in Rayong is the next logical step in the continued electrification of our production network. Once... Read more →

Mitsubishi Corporation entered into a binding agreement with Frontier Lithium, a Canadian lithium mining company, to form a new joint venture company dedicated to developing the PAK Lithium Project located in Ontario, Canada. MC will acquire a 7.5% equity interest in the JV in exchange for cash considerations of C$25... Read more →

Vibrantz Technologies announced the results of a life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluating the greenhouse gas emissions of its high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate (HPMSM), a key raw material for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). The LCA analyzed Vibrantz’s processes at its existing Tertre, Belgium, facility and planned production in... Read more →

X-BATT has unveiled composite anode materials utilizing renewable, bio-derived materials. By leveraging agricultural waste products as a low-cost carbon source, X-BATT aims to address the critical mineral shortage threatening the electrification movement by replacing or supplementing graphite with abundant, renewable resources while promoting carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and... Read more →

StoreDot, a developer of silicon-dominant extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs), confirmed that its battery cells offer consistent and reliable winter performance. This means that EV drivers can recharge their vehicles even in freezing weather, while still maintaining an excellent driving range. With this technology, winter... Read more →

A sodium-metal battery developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin significantly reduces fire risks from the technology, while also relying on inexpensive, abundant materials. The researchers used a salt-based solid diluent in the electrolyte, facilitating the charge-discharge cycle. A specific type of sal— sodium nitrate—allowed the researchers... Read more →

Researchers from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), with colleagues from Clarios, Amplitude Laser Group, and Liminal Insights, have developed a novel laser patterning process to alter the microstructure of battery electrode materials. BatMan builds on NREL’s expertise using laser ablation, advanced computational models, and... Read more →

Oshkosh Corporation invested in Eatron Technologies, a developer of Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered Battery Management Software (BMS). Oshkosh’s investment in Eatron supports its vision to leverage advanced analytics and predictive modeling for lithium-ion batteries to manage its wide range of electric vehicles. AI-enabled BMS aligns to our electrification and advanced... Read more →

The pressure compensation element DIAvent HighFlow (earlier post) enhances the safety of electric car batteries and is generating considerable interest from the automotive industry. Substantial increases in order volumes have come particularly from one Asian and one US automotive group. At a time when suppliers are fiercely competing for every... Read more →

Panasonic Energy signed a long-term agreement with H&T; Recharge (H&T;), a leading battery component manufacturer, for the supply of lithium-ion battery cans in North America, with the aim of expanding production of safe EV batteries. Panasonic Energy and H&T; have collaborated since 2017, with H&T; supplying approximately 40 GWh of... Read more →

Wright Electric, in collaboration with Columbia University, has been awarded a contract from the US Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) to support development of an ultra-energy-dense aluminum battery and novel artificial intelligence system. The $1,499,098 funding is part of the Plane Electrification with 1K energy storage systems program... Read more →

Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd. (VWG UK) has signed an agreement with Ecobat to collect and recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Ecobat has a relationship with VWG UK dating back to 2014 when it started collecting lead acid batteries for TPS, the Volkswagen Group Genuine Parts provider to the independent... Read more →

In an open-access paper in the journal ChemSusChem, a team at Penn State reports using cold sintering to reprocess solid-state composite electrolytes—specifically Mg- and Sr-doped Li7La3Zr2O12 with polypropylene carbonate (PPC) and lithium perchlorate (LLZO–PPC–LiClO4). The low sintering temperature allows co-sintering of ceramics, polymers and lithium salts, leading to re-densification of... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced a conditional commitment to American Battery Solutions (ABS) for a $165.9-million loan to help finance the expansion of an advanced battery pack assembly facility to support light-, medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle (EV) and industrial equipment applications at its... Read more →

Aston University researchers will explore the use of gel electrolyte materials to make lithium-ion batteries safer and less environmentally damaging. The University has received a grant of £443,058 from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to develop safe, reliable, sustainable and commercially relevant gel electrolyte materials. Currently batteries and... Read more →

In 2024 and 2025, MAN Truck & Bus will establish battery repair centers in Italy, Denmark/Norway, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Poland and UK, with further countries in Europe being planned. Millions will be invested in these centers over the next two years. Two battery repair centers are already in operation... Read more →

Actors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, especially Saudi Arabia and Morocco, are gaining a strategic foothold in the lithium ion battery supply chain, according to Benchamrk Mineral Intelligence. Through various policy approaches utilising state support and industrial policy and taking advantage of geopolitical trends, these countries... Read more →

In a follow up to one of last year’s largest cleantech private equity placements, Ascend Elements raised $162 million in new equity investments. Major investors include Just Climate, Clearvision Ventures, and IRONGREY. The new equity financing brings the company’s 12-month funding total to $704 million, including the $542 million funding... Read more →

More than 200 battery factories are to be built worldwide over the coming ten years, most of them in Europe; production technology worth billions is needed for each of these factories. This marks an historic growth opportunity for German and European mechanical and plant engineering firms, according to a new... Read more →

In a pilot project, mobile.de is offering Hyundai car dealers the opportunity to use battery certificates to market their used electric vehicles. This makes mobile.de the first car trading platform in Germany to offer the integration of battery condition certificates. From mid-February, the new function will be tested and further... Read more →

SQM Lithium Ventures announced a follow-on investment of US$9.43 million in Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the energy transition to net zero (earlier post), bringing Altilium’s total investment to US$12 million. The investment completes Altilium’s Series A funding round and marks the largest investment to date... Read more →

South 8 Technologies, the developer of LiGas, liquefied gas electrolyte for advanced lithium-ion batteries (earlier post), has demonstrated high performance on cobalt-free, low nickel, and high-energy battery cells designed for next generation electric vehicles (EV). LiGas is a blend of non-toxic, non-corrosive gases that liquefies under pressure, enabling several safety... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $15 million for 12 projects across 11 states to advance next-generation, high-energy storage solutions to help accelerate the electrification of the aviation, railroad, and maritime transportation sectors. Funded through the Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane ELectrification with 1K energy storage systems (PROPEL-1K) program... Read more →

SiAT, a manufacturer of advanced nanomaterials for batteries in Taiwan, is collaborating with Taiwan petrochemical company CPDC to launch its second-generation lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) paste, a product designed to significantly elevate the safety standards of batteries across the industry. The new LMFP paste incorporates a proprietary blend that... Read more →

Enevate, a developer of technology enabling extreme fast charge with high energy density batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and other markets, announced that JR Energy Solution (JR ES) has started operation of Korea’s first electrode foundry, with capability to manufacture electrodes containing Enevate’s technology. JR ES develops and manufactures high-performance... Read more →

Developer of maritime battery systems EST-Floattech has received an investment of €4 million from Energy Transition Fund Rotterdam and existing shareholders Rotterdam Port Fund, PDENH, Ponooc, and Yard Energy. EST-Floattech develops and produces lithium-ion battery systems for electric and hybrid propulsion of inland vessels, ferries, yachts, and more. Energy Transition... Read more →

A team from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology has used a formic acid–hydrogen peroxide system for the efficient selective leaching of lithium ions from spent lithium iron phophate batteries. A paper on their process is published in thr Journal of Power Sources. With rapid technology development and the support... Read more →

On the back of offtake agreements with Panasonic Energy and General Motors Holdings (earlier post), Nouveau Monde Graphite (NMG) has closed Mitsui & Co. and Pallinghurst Bond Limited for an aggregate combined investment of US$87.5 million to advance NMG’s development toward commercial operations. Map of NMG’s integrated extraction and advanced... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group announced its 2024 first-half ZER01NE Accelerator program, an open innovation platform to facilitate collaboration between startups and the Group on various projects. This program aims to discover valuable startups and explore the possibilities of strategic use of their innovative technologies. Startups can apply to one of seven... Read more →

Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have demonstrated a simple, new, and effective way to separate metal ions from a simulated battery electrode mixture. Their process relies on fundamental chemical principles and requires no specialty chemicals, binding agents, membranes, or toxic solvents. Instead, it uses a common gel loaded... Read more →

LG Energy Solution signed an offtake agreement with Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCEF) for lithium concentrate, further advancing the companies’ pre-existing partnership driven by the objective to deliver efficient and sustainable power solutions to the North American market. Under the agreement, WesCEF will supply LG Energy Solution up to... Read more →

Syrah Resources has begun production of natural graphite active anode materila (AAM) at its 11.25ktpa facility in Vidalia, Louisiana. (Earlier post.) Vidalia is the first vertically integrated natural graphite AAM supplier outside China, processing natural graphite from Syrah’s Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique. Commencing production at Vidalia is a huge... Read more →

DuPont announced that FilmTec LiNE-XD nanofiltration membrane elements, the company’s first offering dedicated to lithium brine purification, was named a finalist in the 2024 Edison Awards in the Resource Recovery & Environmental Conservation category. Lithium brine purification is critical to producing batteries needed for electrification. FilmTec LiNE-XD elements can help... Read more →

Fluorspar demand from the lithium-ion battery sector is expected to exceed 1.6 million tonnes by 2030, representing a significant portion of the overall market, according to Benchmark’s new Fluorspar Market Outlook. This mineral, primarily composed of calcium fluoride (CaF2), holds potential beyond its traditional uses in refrigerants, steelmaking and aluminum... Read more →

According to data from Adamas Intelligence, through the first 11 months of 2023 a total of 253,648 tonnes of nickel were deployed onto roads in the batteries of all newly sold passenger EVs worldwide—a 40% increase over the same period of 2022. Through the first 11 months of last year,... Read more →

A new Carnegie Mellon study finds that the climate change and human health costs of owning and operating a plug-in electric vehicle in coal-heavy regions of the eastern United States have dropped significantly as coal-fired power plants that supply electricity to charge electric vehicles have been displaced by natural gas.... Read more →

Volvo Penta and Swedish backup power solutions company Aiab Energy are strengthening their collaboration to provide an integrated battery energy storage solution (BESS) that meets the specific needs of Aiab Energy’s customers. Volvo Penta will supply Aiab Energy with a high-performance BESS subsystem, consisting in part of energy-dense battery systems... Read more →

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, and SYNETIQ, the UK’s leading vehicle salvage, dismantling and recycling specialist, announced a new commercial collaboration which will see the two companies working together to recycle the growing number of EV batteries from cars that have... Read more →

ACC (Automotive Cells Company) closed a €4.4-billion debt raising, increasing the funding for the construction of three gigafactories for lithium-ion battery cell production in France, Germany, and Italy, and for R&D.; ACC is a joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies, through its subsidiary Saft, behind the technology used by... Read more →

BorgWarner announced a strategic relationship agreement with FinDreams Battery (FDB), a subsidiary of BYD Company. Under the agreement, BorgWarner will be the only non-OEM localized manufacturer, unaffiliated with FinDreams Battery, with rights to localize LFP battery packs for commercial vehicles utilizing FinDreams Battery blade cells in Europe, the Americas, and... Read more →

24M announced Eternalyte, a new electrolyte developed specifically for lithium-metal batteries. The proprietary, liquid electrolyte formula will enable significant improvements in the cycle life and rate capability of lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicle, energy storage and consumer applications, the company said. This new innovation builds on recent technology breakthroughs from... Read more →

From January through November 2023, a total of 50,170 tonnes of cobalt were deployed onto roads globally in the batteries of all newly sold passenger EVs (BEVs, PHEVs and HEVs) combined, 33% more than the same months the year prior, according to Adamas Intelligence. Tesla, which led with 5,214 tonnes... Read more →

StoreDot, a developer of extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles has revealed progress made on the development of its next-phase technology roadmap. This builds on its previously announced introduction of production-readiness cells capable of 100 miles in 5 minutes this year, and 100 in 3 minutes by... Read more →

SK On signed a conditional offtake agreement with US graphite company Westwater Resources Inc. in a move to secure battery-grade natural graphite in North America. Under the terms of the agreement, SK On can source a total of 34,000 tons of natural graphite anode products processed at Westwater’s Kellyton Graphite... Read more →

As reported by the CO2 refrigeration marketplace R744, the Volkswagen Group plans to convert all mobile air conditioning heat pumps in its battery electric vehicles (BEV) models to CO2 (R744) by 2030. The Group made the statement in a public comment submitted regarding the European PFAS Restriction Proposal. In 2023,... Read more →

Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, signed a binding off-take agreement with the battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited for the supply of synthetic graphite, the main component of the anodes of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). In line with Panasonic Energy’s medium- to long-term... Read more →