BatteryTech News & Updates—2026 #11

Hello Battery-Tech community and professionals. Here is your weekly update on major developments in the global battery industry, energy storage, and EV market.

This week includes BYD’s Blade 2.0 launch with 8C charging claims and a plan for 20,000 1,500 kW chargers, plus CATL’s 2025 results showing 661 GWh shipments and a 39.2% global share. We also cover supply-chain shifts at LG Energy Solution for Tesla cells, a major workforce reduction at SK Battery America, and new lithium, cobalt, and graphite supply and recycling initiatives.

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⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

🔋 Mercedes-Benz Teams with Geely on New China EV Platform

Mercedes-Benz’s China R&D will lead “Phoenix,” an entry-level EV platform based on Geely’s GEEA architecture, targeted for a 2030 launch. The platform is set to replace the Modular Architecture and underpin global compact models. Read more

🔋 CATL’s Income Up 42% in 2025 on Rising EV Battery Demand

CATL reported 2025 net income up 42.28% to 72.2 billion yuan, with revenue up 17.04% to 423.7 billion yuan. The company reported 661 GWh in shipments and a global market share of 39.2%. Read more

🔋 SK Battery America to Cut 958 Jobs at Georgia Plant

SK Battery America plans to cut 958 jobs, about 37% of its workforce in Commerce, Georgia, while maintaining pay through May 6. The company cited automaker electrification shifts and changing EV demand as it pursues new partnerships. Read more

🔋 LG Energy Solution Drops LG Chem Cathodes in Tesla Cells

LG Energy Solution has dropped LG Chem’s cathodes for Tesla after LG Chem did not meet Tesla’s 95% nickel targets. LG Energy Solution is turning to L&F materials as Tesla ramps ultra-high-nickel batteries for future models. Read more

🔋 Chinese EV Batteries Surge as South Korean Shipments Decline

In January, EV battery use outside China rose 13.7% year-on-year to 32.7 GWh. LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI recorded declines, reducing their combined share to 25.5%, while CATL and BYD increased share through overseas expansion. Read more

🔋 CATL Releases 2025 Annual Report

CATL’s 2025 Annual Report reported operating revenue of RMB 423.7 billion (+17%) and net profit of RMB 72.2 billion (+42%). The company cited 661 GWh battery sales, a 39.2% global market share, and growth in system solutions and carbon-neutral ventures. Read more


🔋 Construction of BATTL3 in Münster begins

Construction has started on BATTL3 in Münster, providing 1,600 m² of specialized labs across six floors for SMEs, start-ups, and partners. The facility is intended to support R&D, pilot production, and collaboration. Read more

🔋 UniverCell Secures €30M to Scale German Battery Production

UniverCell raised €30M in a Series B to begin lithium-ion cell production. The company targets 50,000 monthly 21700 cells and 1.3 GWh annual capacity by 2027 using dry-coating technology. Read more

🔋 Morrow Batteries, JR Energy to Launch European Electrode Foundry

Morrow Batteries and JR Energy Solution signed an MOU to build a European electrode foundry. The plan combines Arendal’s 1 GWh facility with JRES expertise to simplify supply chains and support advanced battery chemistries. Read more

🔋 China’s February NEV Sales Drop Amid Holiday, Incentive Cuts

China’s February NEV retail sales were 464,000 units, down 32% year-on-year and 22.1% month-on-month, attributed to the Lunar New Year and fewer incentives. BEVs accounted for 59.9% of sales while hybrids continued to decline. Read more

🔋 Volkswagen and XPENG Begin Production of ID.UNYX 08 in China

Volkswagen Group and XPENG began series production of the ID.UNYX 08 at Volkswagen Anhui in Hefei. The model features 800-volt fast charging, Level 2 ADAS, OTA updates, and the China Electronic Architecture. Read more

🔋 BYD Considers Canada EV Plant and Legacy Automaker Buyout

BYD is considering a fully owned EV plant in Canada and evaluating a legacy automaker acquisition as it expands production in Hungary and considers Turkey. The company reported February exports exceeding domestic sales and targets 1.3M overseas units by 2026. Read more


⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

🔋 BYD to Continue Offering 1st-Gen Blade alongside the New Fast-Charging Battery

BYD said it will continue producing its first-generation blade battery alongside a second-generation ultra-fast charging unit. The company cited providing multiple options amid rising raw material costs and also plans 20,000 flash-charging stations by year-end. Read more

🔋 Donut Lab Solid-State Battery Retains Charge in Third Test

Donut Lab reported a third independent self-discharge test of its solid-state Donut Battery, retaining charge over 10 days at room temperature. The company said the voltage data aligns with expected energy loss and counters supercapacitor claims. Read more

🔋 BYD Launches Blade 2.0 Battery with Fast and Long-Range Tech

BYD unveiled Blade 2.0 in Short Blade and Long Blade formats on March 5, 2026. Short Blade 2.0 targets 8C charging with 10–70% SOC in five minutes, while Long Blade 2.0 targets 190–210 Wh/kg; both use CTB 2.0 and roll out with 20,000 1,500 kW chargers. Read more

🔋 TU Braunschweig Launches Three New Sustainable Battery Labs

TU Braunschweig inaugurated three facilities at its Battery Labfactory on March 6, 2026, backed by over €10M in federal funding. The pilot dry coating, tandem wet coating, and 3D printing plants are intended to support circular battery production. Read more

🔋 CATL Advances Sulfide Solid-State Battery for 2027 Pilot

CATL said it patented a specialized sulfide electrolyte cathode material to improve stability and is scaling 500 Wh/kg all-solid-state batteries from lab to automotive-grade cells. The company targets technology readiness levels 7–8 for a 2027 pilot. Read more

🔋 Samsung SDI Tightens Patent Protection for Prismatic Cells

At InterBattery 2026 in Seoul, Samsung SDI’s Joo Yong-lak said the company will strictly enforce prismatic cell patents, citing 1,200 US patents since 1997. Samsung SDI also introduced the PrismStack brand for EVs and energy storage. Read more

🔋 Dreame Unveils 60Ah Solid-State Battery for Mass Production

Dreame presented its Starry Sky Crystal Core Power Battery, a 60 Ah solid-state pack described as ready for volume production, at AWE 2026 in Shanghai. Small-batch deliveries are planned later this year, with mass production set for 2027. Read more

🔋 Group14 Starts Mass Production of SCC55 Silicon Anodes

Group14 Technologies began large-scale manufacturing of SCC55 silicon anodes at its Sangju, South Korea plant. The facility is rated at 2,000 tons annually and is intended to support 10 GWh of fast-charging batteries. Read more


⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS

🔋 Trafigura Secures 80,000 Tons of U.S. Battery Lithium

Trafigura agreed to buy 80,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate over 10 years from the Smackover Lithium JV in Arkansas. The deal targets 8,000 tons per year once production begins and references direct lithium extraction. Read more

🔋 Electra, LG Energy Solution Extend Cobalt Supply Agreement

Electra Battery Materials and LG Energy Solution updated their cobalt sulfate supply agreement. LG Energy Solution will take 60% of Electra’s output through 2029, with an option to extend to 2032, as prices rise and refinery expansion continues. Read more

🔋 POSCO Future M to Invest KRW 357B in Vietnam Graphite Plant

POSCO Future M approved a KRW 357 billion investment to build a 55,000-ton artificial graphite anode plant in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam. Construction is planned to start in late 2026, with commercial production slated for 2028. Read more

🔋 Vianode Signs Term Sheet for North American Anode Supply

Vianode signed a non-binding term sheet to supply 8,000 tonnes of synthetic anode graphite from its Via ONE plant in Norway to a North American battery firm for grid energy storage. Vianode said output is rising above 10,000 tonnes. Read more


⭕ BATTERY RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

🔋 Rio Tinto, CATL Sign MoU on Mine Electrification, Recycling

Rio Tinto and CATL signed an MoU on March 5, 2026 to collaborate on electrified mining equipment, battery-material recycling, and circular economy models. The companies said the goal is to reduce emissions and support low-carbon operations. Read more

🔋 Altilium, Imperial College Launch EV Graphite Recycling R&D

Altilium and Imperial College London partnered to recover and test recycled graphite from end-of-life EV batteries using the EcoAnode hydrometallurgical process. The work will assess purity, particle size, and performance for a domestic circular anode supply. Read more


⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID

🔋 Volkswagen Unveils First 40MWh Battery Storage in Salzgitter

Volkswagen Group connected a 20MW/40MWh battery storage system in Salzgitter through its energy subsidiary Elli. The system uses Unified Cells and is undergoing EPEX SPOT performance tests as Volkswagen enters energy trading. Read more

🔋 Spain Backs Hithium’s Navarre Battery Energy Storage Hub

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez met with Hithium founder Jeff Wu regarding plans for a battery energy storage system manufacturing plant in Navarre. The discussion referenced Spain’s renewable energy transition and public-private partnerships. Read more

🔋 Skeleton Technologies, Taiwania Partner for Sovereign AI Power

Skeleton Technologies and Taiwania Capital announced a partnership focused on power infrastructure for sovereign data centers across Europe and Taiwan. The partners plan to scale GrapheneGPU ultracapacitors and cited targets to cut energy use by 40% while increasing compute throughput. Read more



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