BatteryTech News & Updates – 2026 #2

January 10, 2026

Uncategorized

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

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⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

🔋 BYD Leads Global EV Market with 2.26 Million Sales

Chinese automaker BYD sold 2.26 million pure electric vehicles in 2023, a 27.9% year-over-year increase, making it the world’s top EV seller. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/byd-leads-global-ev-market-with-2-26-million-sales/

🔋 Global EV Registrations Rise 22.9% to 19.17M, BYD Leads

Global EV registrations climbed 22.9% to 19.17 million units from Jan–Nov 2025, led by BYD’s 3.69 million sales; Geely grew 60.9%, Tesla declined 8%, and Hyundai grew 12.1%. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/global-ev-registrations-rise-22-9-to-19-17m-byd-leads/

🔋 Nio Hits 1 Million EV Production, Expands Swap & Charging

At its NeoPark F2 factory in Hefei, Nio reached production of its one-millionth mass-produced EV, donated a third-gen ES8 to a quantum tech foundation, announced a limited-edition ET9, and plans to expand swap and charging stations. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/nio-hits-1-million-ev-production-expands-swap-charging/

🔋 Nio and CATL Sign Five-Year Pact on Long-Life Batteries

Nio and CATL signed a five-year agreement in Hefei to co-develop long-life battery chemistries, standardize swap protocols, share resources, and promote battery-as-a-service to support EV growth. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/nio-and-catl-sign-five-year-pact-on-long-life-batteries/

🔋 EU Fines Exide, FET and Rombat €72M for Auto Battery Cartel

The European Commission fined Exide, FET, Rombat and EUROBAT €72 million for running a 12-year cartel fixing lead-based starter battery surcharges for OEMs across the EEA; Clarios received leniency and cases against Banner and Kellen were closed. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/eu-fines-exide-fet-and-rombat-e72m-for-auto-battery-cartel/

⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

🔋 Factorial to Go Public via Cartesian Growth III SPAC Merger

Factorial Inc. will merge with Cartesian Growth III in a $1.1 billion deal plus a $100 million PIPE for a $1.5 billion valuation; its solid-state cells delivered 1,200 km in a Mercedes-Benz EQS test and performed well in Stellantis trials. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/factorial-to-go-public-via-cartesian-growth-iii-spac-merger/

🔋 Hongqi Rolls Out Prototype with All-Solid-State Battery Pack

China’s Hongqi fitted an all-solid-state battery pack into the Tiangong 06 prototype after 470 days of R&D, reporting progress on sulfide electrolytes, 10 Ah cell performance and scalable 60 Ah module manufacturing. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/hongqi-rolls-out-prototype-with-all-solid-state-battery-pack/

🔋 ProLogium and FEV Debut Solid-State EV Battery at CES 2026

ProLogium and Germany’s FEV Group will showcase a solid-state lithium ceramic EV battery module at CES 2026, claiming up to 1,000 km range, 60–80% charging in minutes, flexible packaging and scalable production. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/prologium-and-fev-debut-solid-state-ev-battery-at-ces-2026/

🔋 Donut Lab Debuts 400 Wh/kg Solid-State Battery for OEM EVs

Donut Lab unveiled a production-ready all-solid-state battery at CES 2026 rated 400 Wh/kg, five-minute full charge, –30 °C to 100 °C durability and 100,000-cycle life, now deployed in motorcycles, EV platforms and defense applications. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/donut-lab-debuts-400-wh-kg-solid-state-battery-for-oem-evs/

🔋 Pact to Advance Solid-State Batteries for Storage and Cargo

ProLogium, Buima Energy, JMS and GWA signed a four-party MoU to develop solid-state batteries for energy storage systems and electric cargo bikes, plan CES 2026 product unveils, and aim to build an industrial supply chain by 2028. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/pact-to-advance-solid-state-batteries-for-storage-and-cargo/

🔋 HPQ Silicon Secures UL 1642 Certification for ENDURA+ Cells

HPQ Silicon’s ENDURA+ lithium-ion cells achieved UL 1642 certification for 18650 and 21700 formats and have UN 38.3 clearance, meeting U.S. safety standards and supporting OEM qualification and market deployment. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/hpq-silicon-secures-ul-1642-certification-for-endura-cells/

⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID

🔋 China Launches World’s Largest Vanadium Flow Battery System

China activated a 200 MW/1 000 MWh vanadium flow battery storage in Xinjiang co-located with a 1 GW solar plant; Huaneng Xinjiang Jimusar Power developed the project and PowerChina integrated the system to support renewable output. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/china-launches-worlds-largest-vanadium-flow-battery-system/

🔋 SK On and Partners to Develop Vanadium Ion Battery ESS

SK On, SK Innovation and Standard Energy formed a partnership to develop vanadium ion batteries for short-duration energy storage systems, targeting improved fire safety, energy density and rapid high-output cycles for industrial and data center applications. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/sk-on-and-partners-to-develop-vanadium-ion-battery-ess/

🔋 XCharge and Energy Plus to Build Battery-Backed EV Depot

XCharge North America and Energy Plus will build a battery-backed EV charging depot in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg, opening Q2 2026 with 88 Eplug spaces and 9.46 MWh of storage to support grid resilience. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/xcharge-and-energy-plus-to-build-battery-backed-ev-depot/

⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS

🔋 DRC Export Rules Spark Global Cobalt Deficit by 2026

Democratic Republic of Congo export limits shifted cobalt from an early-2025 surplus to a projected 10,700-tonne deficit in 2026; China’s refining provided temporary relief while DRC quotas and administrative hurdles constrain volumes and alternative sources remain limited. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/drc-export-rules-spark-global-cobalt-deficit-by-2026/

🔋 Capchem to Invest $260M in Saudi Plant, Expand Polish Output

Shenzhen-based Capchem will invest $260 million in a Saudi plant to produce 200,000 tons of carbonate solvents and 100,000 tons of glycol annually, and will expand Polish electrolyte capacity by 50,000 tons with a CNY 200 million investment. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/capchem-to-invest-260m-in-saudi-plant-expand-polish-output/

🔋 Cabot Signs Multi-Year Carbon Deal with PowerCo SE

Cabot Corporation will supply PowerCo SE with advanced conductive carbons and dispersions under a multi-year agreement to improve lithium-ion EV battery conductivity, energy density and cycle life while expanding Cabot’s battery materials presence. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/cabot-signs-multi-year-carbon-deal-with-powerco-se/

🔋 NEO Battery Materials Secures Vendor Status with Asian OEM

NEO Battery Materials earned vendor status with a Fortune Global 500 Asian automotive OEM after meeting technical and compliance requirements, enabling supply of silicon-enhanced battery components. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/neo-battery-materials-secures-vendor-status-with-asian-oem/

🔋 L&F Slashes Tesla Cathode Supply Deal Value to $7.4M

South Korea’s L&F reduced its 2023 supply deal value for high-nickel cathode materials to Tesla and affiliates from $2.9 billion to $7.4 million, citing slower EV demand, 4680 cell yield issues and scaling challenges in its dry-electrode process. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/lf-slashes-tesla-cathode-supply-deal-value-to-7-4m/

⭕ BATTERY RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

🔋 Honda, Princeton NuEnergy Sign MOU on Battery Recycling

On January 5, 2026, Honda and Princeton NuEnergy signed an MOU to collaborate on plasma-based next-generation lithium-ion battery recycling and upcycling, aiming to strengthen the circular supply chain for cathode materials in the U.S. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/honda-princeton-nuenergy-sign-mou-on-battery-recycling/