Anthro Energy and EnPower Inc. have formalized a master memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and scale lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing within the United States. The agreement covers every stage of production, from advanced polymer electrolyte formulation through electrode assembly and final pouch cell fabrication. By targeting an initial combined capacity exceeding 750 megawatt-hours, the collaboration aims to establish one of the largest domestic battery cell platforms outside of automotive applications, specifically serving defense, robotics and autonomous systems.
Anthro Energy brings its proprietary Proteus electrolyte technology, while Indianapolis-based EnPower contributes expertise in cell design, electrode production and integrated manufacturing. The partnership is intended to strengthen U.S. battery production capacity and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains. It will also explore scalable manufacturing processes and flexible production volumes to meet dynamic defense and autonomous systems requirements.
Under the partnership, engineers will focus on high-energy-density pouch cells exceeding 350 watt-hours per kilogram, achieving elevated safety standards through combined electrolyte and separator innovations. Parallel efforts will develop high-power cell designs optimized for rapid power delivery, addressing needs such as drone propulsion, industrial robotics, AI computing infrastructure, unmanned ground and underwater vehicles, and defense hardware. By combining EnPower’s domestic electrode and pouch cell manufacturing capabilities with Anthro Energy’s electrolyte platform, the collaboration seeks to support longer mission durations, enhanced operational resilience and safe operation in demanding environments.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to reindustrialize American manufacturing and rebuild a domestic battery supply chain for next-generation energy storage solutions. In conjunction with the memorandum, Anthro Energy has announced plans to build a large-scale advanced electrolyte production facility in Louisville, Kentucky, approximately two hours from EnPower’s existing 92,000-square-foot manufacturing site in Indianapolis. The Louisville facility will supply electrolyte volumes required to support projected cell assembly throughput at EnPower’s plant. Executives from both companies view the partnership as a strategic step toward commercializing high-performance energy systems and accelerating deployment across critical defense and robotics sectors.
Source: Assembly Magazine
