BHP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with FinDreams Battery Co. Ltd. (FDB), a wholly owned subsidiary of the BYD Group known for manufacturing and selling battery systems for commercial vehicles, power batteries and energy storage. The collaboration aims to address Scope 1 and 2 emissions by exploring existing and emerging technologies for BHP's operations. Specifically, BHP and FDB will assess powertrain battery solutions for heavy mining equipment and locomotives, along with t...

CATL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BHP Group to collaborate on battery technology and electrification projects. The collaboration will cover the development of batteries for mining equipment and locomotives, and the exploration of rapid charging infrastructure and energy storage systems for BHP's mining applications. Additionally, the partnership aims to investigate battery recycling options. CATL, recognized globally for its new energy technologies, is focused on buildi...

The UK government has confirmed its plans to reintroduce grants for purchasing new electric cars, offering discounts of up to £3,750, Autocar reported July 14. This new Electric Car Grant is supported by £650 million of government funding and applies to certain new electric vehicles priced at or below £37,000. According to a spokesperson from the Department for Transport (DfT), these discounts can be applied to new EVs starting from July 18. This initiative follows the discontinuation of t...

Battery Smart, a battery-swapping operator, has raised $29 million in its ongoing Series B round, with the funding led by New York-based private equity firm Rising Tide Energy. Previous investors who participated include Ecosystem Integrity Fund, LeapFrog Investments and responsAbility. Established in 2019 by Pulkit Khurana and Siddharth Sikka, Battery Smart operates a network for battery swapping in electric two- and three-wheelers. This service facilitates the quick exchange of depleted batter...

Geyser Batteries Oy, a startup in Mikkeli, Finland, has been chosen for EIC Accelerator funding through the EU's Horizon Europe program. The company specializes in developing high-power batteries using a unique, patented water-based electrochemistry, which employs low-cost, widely available materials. This technology is tailored to prevent blackouts in electricity grids and facilitate the use of renewable energy by maintaining grid flexibility and stability. Geyser Batteries has significant comm...

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Pro-net, a subsidiary of Malaysia's national automaker Proton, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Amtel Cellular Sdn. Bhd. to manage the sustainable disposal of electric vehicle batteries. This partnership focuses on the transportation, disassembly and eco-friendly disposal of EV batteries, enabling their materials to be recycled for new battery manufacturing and energy storage solutions. This aligns with the vision of creating a sustainable, circular economy by recovering and reusing...

The European-funded TALISSMAN project, focused on advancing lithium-sulfur battery technologies for sustainable mobility, officially commenced with a two-day kick-off meeting in San Sebastián, Spain, hosted by CIDETEC Energy Storage on July 1 and 2. The event gathered all project partners to initiate collaborative efforts for developing next-generation battery solutions in aerospace and electromobility. The meeting began with introductions facilitated by the host organization and included a ...

Stellantis is scaling back on promoting hydrogen options for its light commercial vehicles due to insufficient investment in infrastructure and incentives in the UK. The company, which includes Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat and Vauxhall under its Pro One van umbrella, offers a hydrogen fuel-cell version of the large Movano in the UK, with plans to launch the midsize Vivaro van later in 2025. Both models are already available in left-hand-drive markets. Fedele Ragusa, Stellantis' senior product m...

Mainland Chinese automaker JAC Group, in partnership with battery manufacturer CATL and its subsidiary Evogo, has conducted a successful integrated battery-swap test for commercial vehicles using CATL's Choco-SEB battery system. The test, which allows a complete battery replacement in just 150 seconds, represents a significant advancement in energy efficiency for electric logistics fleets. The trial underscores efforts to diminish charging time for electric commercial vehicles, enhancing oper...

Mirattery, Nio's battery asset operator, has partnered with CATL, marking an increased interest from the Chinese battery giant in the battery-swap business. The companies have signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Hefei, Anhui province, to deepen cooperation in areas including capital, technology and business models. The agreement between the two companies includes equity investment, battery rental service operations, user services, and the coconstruction and sharing of battery-swap net...

VinFast entered into a partnership with BatX Energies to start battery recycling and reuse services for its electric vehicles in India. Under this collaboration, BatX Energies will be responsible for recycling high-voltage batteries and recovering essential materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel. These materials will then be reused in manufacturing new batteries for VinFast India's factory, enhancing after-sales services and minim...

Valeo Kapec, a joint venture between Valeo and PHC Group, plans to invest 160 billion Korean won ($116.5 million) in a manufacturing plant to produce electric vehicle battery systems (BSA). The two partners will set up the new manufacturing plant in the Yeongcheon Hi-Tech Park district in Yeongcheon City, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Under the agreement, Valeo Kapec will develop a BSA production line on a 36,300 square meter site in the Yeongcheon Hi-Tech Park. This project is exp...

Energy Exploration Technologies Inc. (EnergyX), supported by General Motors, has entered a binding conditional agreement to acquire Daytona Lithium Pty. Ltd. from Pantera Lithium Ltd. for A$40 million. Daytona Lithium possesses 35,000 gross acres on the Arkansas side of the Smackover formation, which EnergyX regards as a promising lithium region in North America. EnergyX, based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, holds 12,500 acres on the Texas side and announced Project Lonestar in the Arkansas-Louisiana...

Ionic Mineral Technologies (Ionic MT), a US producer of advanced materials, has announced the closing of a $29 million Series B financing round. This round was oversubscribed, surpassing the initial target of $25 million, indicating strong investor confidence in the company's mission to create a secure domestic supply chain for critical battery components. The funding will be used to expand the capacity of Ionic MT's 74,000-square-foot facility in Provo, Utah, to enhance the production of two...

Posco Future M, a division of Posco Holdings specializing in battery materials, announced July 11 that it has obtained a supply contract for electric vehicle battery materials from a significant Japanese battery manufacturer. The contract entails Posco Future M supplying natural graphite-based anode materials produced at its Sejong plant for EV batteries made in Japan. The specific details regarding the client or the supply volume were not disclosed due to a mutual agreement between the parties ...

Accumotive, a Mercedes-Benz subsidiary located in the city of Kamenz, Germany, has commenced the series production of the latest-generation batteries for the all-electric CLA. Since the beginning of its operations in 2012, Accumotive has assembled more than 2 million batteries at its plant in Kamenz. The company has strengthened its position as a key supplier of battery packs in the global Mercedes-Benz production network. Accumotive's Kamenz plant has started supplying the new g...

Panasonic Holdings has decided to delay bringing its new US electric vehicle battery plant to full capacity, initially scheduled for March 2027, due to sluggish sales from Tesla, its primary customer, Reuters reported, citing Nikkei business daily. The plant, located in Kansas and valued at $4 billion, was intended to reach a production capacity of 30 gigawatt-hours, but a new target date has not been established. Panasonic did not immediately comment on the matter. The Kansas facility is ...

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed a new membrane technology designed to efficiently extract lithium from water, aiming to address growing concerns about lithium supply and demand. This innovative technology, which sees collaboration with the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago, responds to vulnerabilities in the current supply chain, which predominantly relies on hard-rock mining and salt lakes in limited geo...

Comau has formed a collaboration with Intecells to enhance the use of cold plasma technology in industrial cell manufacturing processes. The partnership aims to create a cost-effective approach that allows customers to incorporate this innovative technology into their existing manufacturing lines. The plasma-based solution helps reduce cycle time and energy consumption during soaking and drying stages, while also improving cell capacity, cyclability and production quality across various batte...

South Korean battery maker SK On has announced that its battery management system (BMS) has received cybersecurity assessment (CSA) and functional safety management system (FSMS) level 3 certifications from TUV Rheinland. This development makes the company the first Korean battery manufacturer to achieve such international certifications. These certifications are awarded under the ISO 26262 standard, which concerns the systematic management of functional safety in automotive electrical a...

In a press release dated July 9, U Power Ltd. announced that it has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NV Gotion Co. Ltd., a recognized player in new-energy battery manufacturing. This partnership aims to deploy swapping-enabled electric vehicle batteries and develop battery-bank solutions for compatible EVs in Thailand and the Southeast Asia region. The collaboration will focus on creating battery modules and packs for various EV types, including two- and three-wheelers, p...

SES AI Corp. announced the release of the latest version of its Molecular Universe software, MU-0.5, that introduces a new feature called Deep Space. This feature aims to accelerate the development of commercial products and enhances SES AI's offering of research and development as a service within the global battery industry. According to Qichao Hu, founder and CEO of SES AI, Molecular Universe has rapidly gained popularity among battery researchers in various institutions due to i...

Chief executives from LG Group's key units, including LG Electronics, will hold closed-door meetings with global carmakers to expand in the software industry. LG Innotek, a major South Korean electronics parts developer, has entered the automotive application processor market, which is expected to grow at 22% annually over the next five years. LG Electronics, a leading global home appliance maker, announced plans to invest more than 1 trillion South Korean won ($762 million) in its ven...

Shanghai-based electric-car maker Nio has launched its 1,000th highway battery-swap station in mainland China. The new battery-swap station is located at the Fushan service area on the G5011 Wuhu-Hefei Highway. This development is part of Nio's efforts to expand its battery-swap infrastructure across the country, enhancing connectivity between 550 major cities and mitigating range anxiety for Nio and Onvo brand users driving on highways. The company now operates a total of 3,399 battery-sw...

Mazda Motor Corp. has launched a new research and development office named Mazda R&D Center Tokyo (MRT), located in Azabudai Hills, Minato-ku, Tokyo, as part of its strategy to enhance its operations in the metropolitan area. Concurrently, Mazda has relocated its Tokyo Office from the Kasumigaseki Building to Azabudai Hills. The company aims to maintain its status as the Brand of Choice by adapting to the industry's shift toward electrified and intelligent vehicles while preserving i...

The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB has initiated the KOOP project in collaboration with the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) of RWTH Aachen University and mixing technology specialist, hs·tumbler, to explore new battery technologies with a focus on sodium-ion batteries. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the project aims to expedite the industrialization of innovative productio...

US President Donald Trump announced his plans to impose a 50% tariff on imported copper, further escalating his administration's strategy to bolster domestic industries through tariffs, Fox Business reported July 8. This announcement, made at a Cabinet meeting, aligns with Trump's America First policy, which aims to enhance industrial supply chains by encouraging companies to procure materials from within the US. During the meeting, Trump highlighted that copper will join steel...

StoreDot has announced a significant enhancement of its intellectual property portfolio related to extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles. The company has been granted a patent in the US, along with Notices of Allowance for two additional patent applications, which are expected to be issued soon. These patents form the core of StoreDot's XFC Shield framework, establishing the company's dominance in silicon-dominant anode fast-charging technology. This development...

Ford Motor Co. said that its $3 billion electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan, US, which is 60% complete, is on track to qualify for production tax credits following revisions in a recent tax and budget bill. In May, the company had raised concerns that the US government might eliminate these credits due to the plant's use of mainland Chinese technology for battery manufacturing, as outlined in an earlier version of the legislation. The Michigan plant, situated in Marshall and expected t...

Taiwan-based Xing Mobility and Polish industrial group SKB have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly promote the deployment of immersion-cooled battery technology across Poland and Europe. Facilitated by the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this partnership was formalized during the Taiwan-Poland Economic Forum, marking a critical development in industrial cooperation aimed at accelerating the adoption of this safe and efficient technology in Europe. Poland, buoye...

Lead Intelligent Equipment has introduced its mass production-integrated dry mixing and coating system for lithium battery anodes and cathodes. This system is designed for industrial-scale production and provides a solvent-free, energy-efficient solution to enhance clean and high-performance battery manufacturing. As the demand for batteries increases and environmental regulations become stricter, the coating process remains essential to battery performance. Traditional wet coating methods ar...

Livium Ltd., led by CEO Simon Linge, has outlined its strategic direction for long-term growth as it embarks on the 2026 financial year. The company is transitioning toward a recycling-centric business model with a primary focus on battery recycling, while the divisions of Battery Materials and Lithium Chemicals remain integral to its operations. The shift toward recycling large-format lithium-ion batteries has led to higher margins and improved efficiency, despite a decrease in overall recyc...

On June 12, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) announced that it had hired 50 specialists to enhance the resilience and ethical standards of its electric vehicle supply chains, addressing ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. This initiative is part of JLR's strategy to transform its operations to deliver the new generation of pure electric models across all its brands by 2030. The specialists' role involved providing detailed and accurate visibility of the supply chain, particularly focusing on th...

Anhui Anwa New Energy Technology, an emerging battery technology company in mainland China, has produced its first batch of engineering samples for its solid-state battery. The solid-state battery samples have an energy density of 300 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). The company, which was founded in June 2020, aims to launch a giga-scale assembly operation for its solid-state batteries in mainland China. Chery New Energy, a unit of automaker Chery, holds a 9.89% stake in Anhui...

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Hyundai is gearing up to introduce its third-generation Creta SUV, codenamed SX3, featuring a range of engine options, Autocar Professional reported on June 26. The popular midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) will offer four engine choices, including two petrol engines, one diesel engine and a petrol-hybrid engine. The hybrid variant will be equipped with a 1.5L naturally aspirated 4-cylinder petrol engine, similar to the setup in the Kia Seltos. The lineup will include a 115hp, 1.5L petrol e...

The European Commission has announced that six pioneering electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing projects will receive €852 million in grants from the Innovation Fund. EU's Innovation Fund is funded by revenue from the EU Emissions Trading System. These grants are part of efforts to spur growth and investment in the EU's battery manufacturing industry, supporting the Industrial Action Plan for the European automobile sector and the Clean Industrial Deal. The selected projects a...

Volkswagen and Renault are driving pilot projects focused on bidirectional charging in Europe. While these projects are being managed at a small scale, both carmakers are expected to scale up their respective vehicle-to-grid (V2G) projects to support the EU's power grid in the future. Utrecht has become the first European city to launch a large-scale V2G system through a collaboration involving Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels, and the local municipality. The initiative, which is named...

The US electric vehicle tax credits, which include a $7,500 credit for new EV purchases or leases and a $4,000 credit for used EVs, are set to expire Sept. 30 following the recent tax and budget legislation passed by Congress. This change marks the end of incentives that have boosted EV sales in recent times. The Electrification Coalition expressed concerns that the expiration of these credits could hinder the US' role in the global shift toward electric transportation, potentially ceding lea...

Call2Recycle Canada has announced the expansion of the Electrified Vehicle (EV) Battery Recovery Program across Canada, following a successful initial rollout in Québec. This initiative, EVBatteryRecovery.ca, was developed to manage end-of-life EV batteries from hybrid, plug-in hybrid, all-electric and fuel-cell vehicles outside of existing manufacturer-led recovery programs. The program was initially launched in June 2023 in Québec as a collaborative effort between vehicle manufacturers an...

Researchers at the US Energy Department's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a novel current collector that contributes to increased energy density and efficient extreme fast charging, enabling at least 80% battery recharge in 10 minutes. This innovation reduces reliance on metals such as copper and aluminum, alleviating supply chain pressures. The development of a new battery component is poised to enhance the competitiveness of the US transportation industry by addres...

Tata Elxsi has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Infineon Technologies to jointly develop electric vehicle solutions specifically designed for the Indian market. The partnership aims to leverage the design and integration expertise of both companies, accelerating the adoption of automotive-grade, cost-efficient and safety-compliant subsystems across key mobility segments. It will also focus on achieving compliance with critical safety standards, such as Automotive Safety Integrity...

Volvo Cars and Polestar have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on developing and producing the Polestar 7, a fully electric compact sport utility vehicle scheduled for launch in 2028. The premium electric SUV will be manufactured at Volvo Cars' upcoming manufacturing plant in Kosice, Slovakia, marking it the second car to be assembled following an undisclosed Volvo model. The Polestar 7 will share technology with two upcoming Volvo models, including...

U Power Ltd., a provider of electric vehicle battery-swapping solutions, announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Beijing Foton International Trade Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Foton Motor, to jointly promote battery-swapping-compatible electric heavy trucks, buses and vans in Southeast Asia, South America, Hong Kong and Macau markets. U Power will offer technological support to integrate battery-swapping capabilities into Beijing Foton vehicles and develop battery-swappi...

Allotrope Energy has introduced supercapacitors that claim to double the performance and reduce the cost of hybrid energy solutions significantly. These supercapacitors have twice the energy density compared to existing solutions, while being half the weight and size and at a fraction of the cost. This breakthrough is made possible through the use of Lignavolt, a sustainably produced nano-porous carbon material. These supercapacitors offer a higher energy density of approximately 14-15 watt-h...

In a first-ever move, Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL), the world's largest manufacturer of electric vehicle batteries, has launched its production lines inside a carmaker's factory to produce and supply customized battery cells. According to the report published by Yicai Global on July 1, CATL has commenced operations at a production line installed at a factory owned by Seres Group for the latter's premium EV brand Aito.  Two CATL Cell-to-Pack 2.0 production lines have b...

Lyten, a US-based company specializing in supermaterial applications and lithium-sulfur batteries, plans to acquire Northvolt's Dwa ESS operations in Gdansk, Poland. The battery plant, which was part of Northvolt Systems, is the largest battery energy storage systems (BESS) manufacturing and research and development facility in Europe. Both companies have not disclosed the financial details of the acquisition. The deal will facilitate Lyten's expansion into the European market and enhance its...

An electric vehicle advocacy group has called on the US House to revise a Senate-approved bill that would eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for new electric vehicle sales and leases, and the $4,000 credit for used EVs, effective Sept. 30. The Electrification Coalition emphasized that removing these credits could undermine the US manufacturing industry and hand over control of the future of transportation to mainland China, urging the House to oppose the bill. Calstart, a California-based nonpro...

Tata Group's global battery business, Agratas, has begun construction on a significant electric vehicle battery plant in the UK, marking a vital milestone in the project's development. The first steel frames were erected at the Puriton site, near Bridgwater, Somerset. Agratas is investing £4 billion in developing the site, which formerly served as the Royal Ordnance Factory, strategically located near junction 23 of the M5. The construction phase is anticipated to take two years and sho...

Posco Holdings is preparing to be the first South Korean company to test and verify Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology in North America, aiming to establish a lithium supply chain for secondary battery core materials. The company plans to commercialize its independently developed DLE technology by successfully operating a demonstration plant in the US, targeting undeveloped lithium salt lakes across North America. On June 30, Posco Holdings signed a memorandum of understanding with Au...

EVE Energy, a leading mainland Chinese battery-maker, has filed for public listing in Hong Kong. It plans to utilize the proceeds to construct its production facilities in Hungary and Malaysia. Founded in 2001, EVE Energy was listed on the ChiNext stock market in Shenzhen, mainland China, in 2009. From its first public listing to Dec. 31, 2024, the company experienced a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43.9% and a net income CAGR of 36.4%. EVE Energy specializes in consum...

Mainland Chinese battery-maker CATL has initiated the construction of a $6 billion battery manufacturing plant in Indonesia, according to a report by CnEVPost dated June 30. The project is a collaboration between CATL, Indonesia's state-owned Indonesia Battery Corp. and PT Aneka Tambang, located in Karawang regency, West Java province. The battery plant should have a capacity of 15 GWh per year, sufficient to power between 250,000 and 300,000 electric vehicles, according to Indonesian En...