CSIRO launches new graphite R&D grant opportunity

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has launched a new research and development (R&D) grant opportunity to accelerate the growth of the domestic battery industry and open up export opportunities, especially in the United States of America. Under the grant opportunity, successful mining and manufacturing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) will be offered... Read more →


Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) will conduct a demonstration of its Battery 2nd Life initiative starting from February 2025. Under this initiative, the company plans to repurpose used batteries from the its electric light-duty eCanter trucks to build energy storage systems. MFTBC will jointly conduct the demonstration with... Read more →


Applied Materials spinout Elevated Materials launches targeting next-gen batteries; thin-film technology

Elevated Materials, a newly formed independent company, has launched with investments from TPG’s Rise Climate fund and Applied Materials, Inc. Building on extensive technology development from Applied, Elevated Materials brings to market ultra-thin, uniform lithium films designed to enable the next generation of batteries with enhanced energy density, cycle life,... Read more →


Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina (TBMNC), Toyota’s first in-house battery manufacturing plant outside Japan, is ready to begin production and will start shipping batteries for North American electrified vehicles in April. The nearly $14-billion battery facility, Toyota’s 11th manufacturing plant in the United States, will produce batteries for hybrid electric... Read more →


Toyota to partner with Shanghai on carbon neutrality and establish a company to develop and produce BEVs and batteries

Toyota Motor Corporation will sign a comprehensive partnership agreement with the Shanghai municipal government in China regarding carbon neutrality. In addition, Toyota has decided to establish a new wholly-owned company in Jinshan District in southwest Shanghai to develop and produce BEVs and batteries. Under this partnership with the Shanghai municipal... Read more →


Li-Cycle further expands commercial footprint in EU with gloabl EV OEM

Li-Cycle Holdings, a global lithium-ion battery resource recovery company, has partnered with an additional premium automotive original equipment manufacturer (“OEM”) to recycle lithium-ion battery materials at its Germany Spoke as it continues to broaden its commercial footprint in the EU. This exclusive agreement channels feedstock from a facility producing electric... Read more →


Researchers at The George Washington University, University of Chicago and The University of Texas at Austin have developed a new method directly to extract and to purify lithium hydroxide from geothermal brines. An open-access paper on their work is published in Nature Communications. In this work, we design an economically... Read more →


Neutrons reveal lithium flow could boost performance in solid-state battery

A team of scientists led by a professor from Duke University discovered a way to help make batteries safer, charge faster and last longer. They relied on neutrons at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory to understand at the atomic scale how lithium moves in lithium phosphorus sulfur... Read more →


C-BATT announces fully domestic supply chain for upcoming Obsidia battery anode material

C-BATT, a developer of advanced battery materials, has established a fully domestic supply chain for its upcoming Obsidia high-capacity battery anode material. This development ensures that every component and precursor of Obsidia—a tunable silicon-carbon composite battery material—is sourced and produced within the United States. One key ingredient is domestically mined... Read more →


Lithium–air batteries have the potential to outstrip conventional lithium-ion batteries by storing significantly more energy at the same weight. However, their high-performance values have thus far remained theoretical, and their lifespan remains too short. A Chinese team has now proposed addition of a soluble catalyst to the electrolyte. It acts... Read more →


International Battery Company and Xponential Battery Materials sign MoU to develop Li-S solid-state batteries for EVs

International Battery Company (IBC) and Xponential Battery Materials (XBM) have signed an MoU to collaborate on the production of a sustainable, high-energy density, low-weight, and cost-effective Li-Sulfur (Li-S) Solid-State Battery (SSB), for EV battery markets. The demand for affordable and sustainable, urban e-mobility battery solutions presents a massive opportunity for... Read more →


Africa’s largest EV company Spiro selects Ace as exclusive global battery recycling partner

Ace Green Recycling, a provider of sustainable battery recycling technology, and Spiro, Africa’s largest electric vehicle (EV) company signed a strategic agreement to support the circular battery value chain in Africa. The partnership will see Ace recycle end-of-life lithium-ion batteries, including LFP batteries, as well as waste from Spiro’s battery... Read more →


Aramco plans energy transition minerals JV with Ma’aden; commercial lithium production could potentially commence by 2027

Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, and Ma’aden, the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East and North Africa region, signed non-binding Heads of Terms, which envisages the formation of a minerals exploration and mining joint venture (JV) in the Kingdom of... Read more →


Report: Nissan to buy 20 GWh of ternary Li-ion batteries from SK On

The Nikkei reports that Nissan will buy 20 GWh of ternary Li-ion batteries for EVs sold in the US from S. Korea-based SK On—enough for some 300,000 EVs. A ternary battery uses a cathode material comprising three different metal elements, the most common combination being nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and... Read more →


Forge Battery secures $100M in funding from DOE

Forge Battery, the commercial lithium-ion battery production subsidiary of Forge Nano, Inc., finalized award negotiations for $100 million in non-dilutive funding by the Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). Forge Battery plans to use the $100 million to expand its North Carolina lithium-ion battery gigafactory... Read more →


Resonate Testing investing £475k to establish first battery testing facility in Ireland

Resonate Testing will invest £475,000 (US$586,000) to establish the first battery testing facility on the island of Ireland. Invest Northern Ireland has offered support to the company to help it develop the new battery testing facility and invest in the equipment. The facility includes an explosive and fireproof chamber, multiple... Read more →


Ioneer announced the closing of a $996-million loan from the US Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) program to support the development of an on-site processing facility at the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The investment, part of... Read more →


Pure Lithium and Saint-Gobain Ceramics enter into a joint development agreement to accelerate production of lithium-selective membranes for metal extraction and battery applications

Pure Lithium Corporation, a Boston-based lithium metal battery technology company, announced a joint development agreement with Saint-Gobain Ceramics, a global leader in specialty ceramic materials. The joint development agreement will accelerate the production of Pure Lithium’s patent-pending lithium selective, water-blocking membranes for lithium metal anode production from brine. Additionally, Pure... Read more →


DOE to award up to $88M in funding available for advanced vehicle research and development

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Fiscal Year 2025 Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) Program Wide funding program. (DE-FOA-0003514) This funding opportunity will award up to $88 million for projects that will seek innovative transportation solutions for on- and off-road vehicles. This funding opportunity has 10 major topic areas:... Read more →


Vianode signs USD multi-billion long-term supply agreement for EV battery-grade anode graphite with GM

Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, has been selected as a strategic supplier of high-performance anode graphite solutions to General Motors. The agreement covers development of large-scale manufacturing capacity and supply of synthetic anode graphite towards 2033. The master supply agreement has a USD multi-billion value for Vianode and marks... Read more →


ICL in deal with Shenzhen Dynanonic to produce lithium iron phosphate for European battery market; initial investment of approximately €285M

ICL, a global specialty minerals company, has signed a joint venture (JV) agreement with Shenzhen Dynanonic Co., Ltd. to establish lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material (CAM) production in Europe, with an . A new facility at ICL's Sallent, Spain, site is currently in planning stages and will substantially... Read more →


Amprius introduces new SiCore cell; proprietary silicon anode material system

Amprius Technologies announced a new SiCore cell as part of its expanding SiCore product platform. The SiCore platform utilizes a proprietary silicon anode material system to deliver the best-known commercially available energy and power performance in one cell. With an energy density of 370 Wh/kg, the SiCore cell extends runtimes... Read more →


Mali launches Goulamina lithium mine project; 65% owned by Ganfeng Lithium

In December 2024, Mali launched the Goulamina lithium mine, located in the Bougouni region, marking the country’s entry as a major producer of lithium. Benchmark recently projected that Mali is set to become the second largest lithium miner in Africa this year behind Zimbabwe. Accoding to Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast, in... Read more →


Altilium and Helm sign memorandum of understanding to strengthen the UK’s lithium supply chain

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, announced a new partnership with major chemicals company, HELM AG, through its UK subsidiary LevertonHELM Ltd, that will see the two companies working together to develop a sustainable domestic supply chain for lithium in the UK.... Read more →


BMW, SK tes expanding closed-loop battery recycling system to N America

After successfully launching a closed-loop recycling system for the reuse of raw materials from high-voltage batteries due to the BMW Brilliance Automotive Joint Venture (BBA) in China in 2022, the BMW Group on 1 November 2024 launched a pan-European partnership with SK tes, a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle... Read more →


SK On, the world’s fifth largest EV battery manufacturer and supplier of EV batteries to OEMs such as Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz, announced its latest research and development (R&D) achievements on all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). SK On said that the findings from its ASSB research projects, conducted in collaboration... Read more →


Although oversupply and low prices have dominated discussions around battery raw material markets this year, significant deficits are forecast in the next ten years, according to Benchmark. The forecast deficits are substantially higher than the current surpluses. In 2034, the lithium and nickel markets are expected to be in deficits... Read more →


Dürr Systems AG has received a significant order from Italian battery manufacturer FIB S.p.A, a Seri Industrial Group company. Awarded in December 2024, the order includes the delivery of a giga-coating system comprising four anode and four cathode lines, as well as the associated calenders, slitters, and solvent recovery systems.... Read more →


Ace Green Recycling plans. to build India’s largest battery recycling facility

Ace Green Recycling finalized a lease agreement for a site to build India’s largest battery recycling facility. To be located in Mundra, Gujarat, the facility will build on Ace’s existing Indian commercial operations, which have been recycling lithium-ion batteries since 2023 including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries. As a part... Read more →


Blue Whale Materials (BWM) has received a contracted grant award of more than $55 million from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Program. Approximately $3 million of the grant will go... Read more →


Most solids expand as temperatures increase and shrink as they cool. Some materials do the opposite, expanding in the cold. Lithium titanium phosphate is one such substance and could provide a solution to the problem of steeply declining performance of lithium-ion batteries in cold environments. In the journal Angewandte Chemie,... Read more →


Mazda to build module pack plant for cylindrical lithium-ion batteries in Japan

The Mazda Motor Corporation plans to construct a new module pack plant in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The plant will produce automotive-grade cylindrical lithium-ion battery modules and packs, sourced from Panasonic Energy. These battery packs will power Mazda’s first battery EV designed on a dedicated EV platform and will... Read more →


Bosch presenting e-Bike digital battery lock at CES

At CES 2025 in Las Vegas, Bosch will present the Battery Lock: a function that ensures that the eBike battery can no longer be used if it is stolen, making it worthless to thieves. The new solution complements the digital theft protection portfolio in the smart system centred around eBike... Read more →


DOE awarding $51.7M to 19 projects to advance innovative transportation technologies

The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award $51.7 million to transportation innovation projects aimed at expanding affordable, reliable mobility options across America. The 19 projects selected for this funding will focus on advancing a broad range of next generation technologies for the transportation sector. This includes electric vehicle (EV)... Read more →


DOE awards $25M to 11 projects to advance manufacturing of next-generation batteries

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $25 million to projects to advance materials, processes, machines, and equipment for domestic manufacturing of next-generation batteries. These projects will advance platform technologies upon which battery manufacturing capabilities can be built, enabling flexible, scalable, and highly controllable battery manufacturing processes. Managed by... Read more →


Eos Energy announces $68.3M first funding from its $303.5M DOE loan guarantee

Eos Energy Enterprises, a developer of zinc-based long duration energy storage (LDES) systems, manufactured in the United States, has received the first loan advance from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office in the amount of $68.3 million. The loan advance, which covers 80% of eligible costs incurred to... Read more →


American Battery Technology Company awarded $144M grant contract from DOE for construction of second Li-ion battery recycling facility

American Battery Technology Company (NASDAQ: ABAT), an integrated critical battery materials company that is commercializing its technologies for both primary battery minerals manufacturing and secondary minerals lithium-ion battery recycling, has received a contracted grant award for $144 million of federal investment by the US Department of Energy (DOE). These funds... Read more →


Toyota to receive $4.5M in ARPA-E funding to support battery chain circularity

Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), inclusive of Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) R&D, has been selected to receive $4.5 million in funding from the US Department of Energy, Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The funding is part of the Catalyzing Innovative Research for Circular Use of Long-lived... Read more →


DOE announces $9.63B loan to BlueOval SK to expand US manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) announced the closing of a direct loan of up to $9.63 billion to BlueOval SK LLC (BOSK) for the construction of up to three manufacturing plants to produce batteries for Ford Motor Company’s future Ford and Lincoln electric vehicles (EVs).... Read more →


Recycling could enable Europe to cut its reliance on EV battery mineral imports by up to a quarter by the end of the decade, a new study finds. Materials from end-of-life batteries and gigafactory scrap have the potential to build up to 2.4 million EVs locally in 2030, according to... Read more →


DIU issues solicitation for Family of Advanced Standard Batteries for Unmanned Systems - (FASTBAT-U)

The Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is seeking fully commercialized, rechargeable battery cells that meet the performance needs of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) to include Group 1 and 2, with diverse mission requirements (FASTBAT-U). The DoD seeks proven (TRL 7+, MRL 7+) solutions with recurring commercial... Read more →


Rio Tinto to invest $2.5B to expand Rincon lithium project capacity to 60,000 tonnes battery-grade lithium carbonate per year

Rio Tinto has approved $2.5 billion to expand the Rincon project in Argentina, the company’s first commercial-scale lithium operation, demonstrating its commitment to building a world-class battery materials portfolio. Rincon’s capacity of 60,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year comprises the 3,000-tonne starter plant and 57,000-tonne expansion plant. Rincon’s... Read more →


Stellantis and CATL to invest up to €4.1B in joint venture for large-scale LFP battery plant in Spain

Stellantis and CATL will invest up to €4.1 billion to form a joint venture that will build a large-scale European lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Designed to be completely carbon neutral, the battery plant will be implemented in several phases and investment plans. Targeted to start... Read more →


QuantumScape releases next-generation solid-state battery separator equipment, Cobra

QuantumScape Corporation, a leader in solid-state lithium-metal battery technology, announced that next-generation heat treatment equipment for its separator production process, Cobra, has been developed, delivered, installed and released for initial separator processing. Achieving this milestone on schedule puts the company on track to deliver higher-volume samples of its first planned... Read more →


Stellantis and Zeta Energy to collaborate to develop Lithium-sulfur EV batteries; targeting powering Stellantis EVs by 2030

Stellantis N.V. and Zeta Energy announced a joint development agreement aimed at advancing battery cell technology for electric vehicle applications. The partnership aims to develop lithium-sulfur EV batteries with high gravimetric energy density while achieving a volumetric energy density comparable to today’s lithium-ion technology. For customers, this means potentially a... Read more →


Monash commercializing rapid-charge lithium-sulfur battery technology

Monash University (Australia) engineers have developed an ultra-fast charging lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery, capable of powering long-haul EVs and commercial drones. With rapid charging times, the lightweight Li-S batteries could soon power drones, with electric aircraft a future possibility. Researchers aim to demonstrate the technology in commercial drones and electric vertical... Read more →


Kyocera, a 24M Technology License Partner, to double production of SemiSolid Li-ion batteries using 24M technology by FY2026

24M announced that its technology license and joint development partner, Kyocera Corporation, aims to double its production capacity for 24M SemiSolid lithium-ion residential energy storage batteries by FY2026. 24M said that Kyocera is accelerating production due to increased demand for energy storage products. (Earlier post.) In 2020, 24M and Kyocera... Read more →


Hyundai Motor Group partners with Indian Institutes of Technology to advance battery and electrification research

Hyundai Motor Group is partnering with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to establish a collaborative research system in the fields of batteries and electrification. The three institutes include IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Madras. The Hyundai Center of Excellence (CoE), which will be set up within IIT Delhi,... Read more →


Toshiba develops a low-cost and low-environmental-impact recycling method for Li-ion battery oxide anodes

Toshiba Corporation has developed a method for recycling lithium-ion battery oxide anodes at low cost and with low environmental impact. The EU Battery Regulation, which went into effect in August 2023, mandates the declaration of carbon footprints (CFP) and high levels of environmental consideration throughout the product life cycle, necessitating... Read more →


Altilium commences activities at ACT 2 EV Battery Recycling Plant

Altilium has begun processing of lithium-ion battery waste at its new ACT 2 recycling facility in Plymouth, UK. The facility, the first of its kind in the UK, marks the next phase of Altilium’s scale-up strategy, leading to megascale recycling at its planned ACT 4 plant in Teesside. Showcasing the... Read more →