BatteryTech News & Updates — 2026 #20

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 major capacity and funding moves from CATL, including a 40 GWh sodium-ion plant plan in Fujian and a $5B raise tied to its European expansion. We also cover Tesla’s $250M investment to raise Giga Berlin battery output to 18 GWh, plus new BESS deployments totaling about 1 GWh across California and Montenegro.

Subscribe to Newsletter

⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

🔋 Porsche Closes Three Subsidiaries, Cuts Over 500 Jobs

Porsche approved plans to close Cellforce Group, Porsche eBike Performance, and Cetitec, cutting over 500 roles. The company said the measures refocus efforts on core automotive functions to support competitiveness. Read more

🔋 Oman and EL B&T Plan $250M EV and Battery Plant in Duqm

Oman’s OPAZ and South Korea’s EL B&T plan a RO96.2 million ($250 million) two-phase EV and battery cell plant at Duqm SEZAD. Targets include 60,000 vehicles and 1.6 million cells per year, starting with domestic supply before exports. Read more

🔋 BYD to Supply 100,000 EVs to Car Inc, Expand Flash Charging

BYD signed a framework deal to deliver 100,000 vehicles to Car Inc for its rental fleet. The partnership also includes deploying flash charging stations nationwide under BYD’s Flash Charging China strategy. Read more

🔋 Anthro Energy and EnPower Target U.S. Li-ion Cell Scale-Up to 750 MWh

Anthro Energy and EnPower signed an MOU to develop U.S. lithium-ion cell manufacturing with more than 750 MWh capacity. The effort combines Proteus electrolyte, electrode design, and pouch cell fabrication for defense, robotics, and autonomous systems. Read more

🔋 Unitree Unveils GD01 Manned Mecha, Priced at 3.9 Million Yuan

Unitree introduced the GD01, described as the first mass-produced manned mecha, priced at 3.9 million yuan. The company says it weighs about 500 kg with a passenger, and released a demo showing walking and a quadruped mode. Read more

🔋 Tesla Invests $250M to Raise Giga Berlin Battery Output to 18 GWh

Tesla said it will invest $250 million to expand battery cell production at Giga Berlin in Germany. The company targets 18 GWh capacity, citing in-house supply and streamlined operations to support European EV demand. Read more

🔋 CATL Raises $5B in Hong Kong for European Expansion

CATL raised $5 billion in Hong Kong to support its “In Europe, for Europe” plan. The company said funding will help scale the Debrecen plant from 40 GWh to 100 GWh and support R&D, zero-carbon initiatives, and local hiring. Read more

🔋 Ford Launches Ford Energy for U.S.-Assembled Battery Storage

Ford Motor Company launched Ford Energy, a subsidiary offering U.S.-assembled battery energy storage systems for utilities, data centers, and industrial clients. Ford targets 20 GWh of annual capacity, with first units planned for late 2027. Read more

🔋 BYD in Talks to Acquire Underutilized European Car Plants

BYD is evaluating underutilized European factories, including talks with Stellantis and other automakers. The company is considering acquiring idle plants to grow overseas output, alongside expansions in Hungary and Turkey. Read more

🔋 CATL Starts 5 GWh Battery Module Assembly in Debrecen

CATL began battery module assembly at its Debrecen facility, completing its first cell factory and installing Industry 4.0 automation. The company said it has built 240,000 modules since autumn 2024 and added a new 5 GWh line to support EU output. Read more

🔋 CIBF2026 in Shenzhen Showcases Next-Generation Battery Technology

CIBF2026 in Shenzhen drew more than 3,200 exhibitors and 350,000 professionals. Exhibits covered lithium-ion, solid-state, and sodium-ion technologies, along with manufacturing equipment, recycling solutions, and integration tools. Read more

⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID

🔋 SoftBank to Start Battery Manufacturing for Data Centers by Fiscal 2028

SoftBank plans to produce next-generation batteries at a new Sakai City facility by fiscal 2028 to power its data centers. The company also described expansion plans into grid, industrial, and residential uses via partnerships on zinc-halogen cells and high-density storage. Read more

🔋 Eve Energy Signs 8 GWh Energy Storage Battery Supply Deal in India

Eve Energy agreed to supply 8 GWh of energy storage batteries to Godawari New Energy in India. The deal marks Eve Energy’s entry into South Asia, with an aim of 60 GWh over five years. Read more

🔋 Alsym Energy and Juniper Plan 500 MWh Sodium-Ion Storage in California

Alsym Energy and Juniper Energy plan to deploy 500 MWh of sodium-ion battery storage across California. The companies cite Alsym’s Na-Series chemistry and non-flammable design, along with domestic sourcing and eligibility for federal incentives. Read more

🔋 PowerX and EPCG Sign MOU for About 500 MWh BESS in Montenegro

PowerX signed an MOU with Montenegro’s utility EPCG to deploy roughly 500 MWh of battery energy storage over three years. The plan targets renewable integration and grid stability, and includes evaluating local BESS assembly feasibility. Read more

⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

🔋 CATL to Invest 5 Billion Yuan for 40 GWh Sodium-Ion Plant in Fujian

CATL plans to invest 5 billion yuan to add 40 GWh of sodium-ion battery capacity at its Fuding Shidai base in Fujian. The standalone plant is planned over 24 months, lifting total capacity at the base to 149 GWh. Read more

🔋 Fast-Charging Control Method Extends EV Battery Life by 23%

Researchers at Chalmers developed a fast-charging strategy using reinforcement learning within the BMS to adapt current to each battery’s chemistry and health. The team reported a 23% cycle-life increase without longer charge times. Read more

🔋 RWTH Aachen Launches FastBat Research Cluster with €50M Funding

RWTH Aachen launched the FastBat cluster with €50M in funding to speed battery innovation across five centers. The program spans design methods, advanced chemistries, manufacturing, recycling, and applications with academic and industry participation. Read more

🔋 BYD and Corvus Energy Partner on Marine LFP Battery Systems

BYD and Corvus Energy announced a partnership to integrate technology, streamline certification, and deploy high-rate LFP battery systems for electric vessels. The companies framed the work as supporting marine electrification. Read more

⭕ BATTERY RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

🔋 RoB@t2Cell Develops Automated Battery Cell Discharge, Disassembly, and Reuse

RoB@t2Cell, led by Fraunhofer IPA with partners including Umicore and Siemens, is developing an automated system for safe disassembly and tailored discharge of battery cells. The project targets second-life reuse or recycling to support a circular economy in Europe. Read more

⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS

🔋 ElevenEs and CarbonX Move LFP Collaboration Into Industrial-Scale Testing

ElevenEs and CarbonX extended their LFP battery collaboration into 2026, moving from material validation to industrial testing at ElevenEs’s EdgeLabs. The work integrates CarbonX anode materials with the stated goal of strengthening Europe’s LFP supply chain. Read more



Events, Conferences & Trade Shows

Upcoming Events

Event Partner



Latest Job Opportunities

  • Latest Job Openings on LinkedIn (Daily Updated)

    💼 Jobs in Europe:

    • Junior Process Engineer – Exide Group, Italy – View details
    • Production shift leader – CATL Debrecen, Hungary – View details
    • Global PMO Manager – IONWAY, Poland – View details
    • Sales Director (m/f/d) – Gotion Inc., Germany – View details
    • Environment, Health and Safety Manager – SK On Hungary, Hungary – View details
    • HVAC Technician – CATL Debrecen, Hungary – View details

    💼 Jobs in North America:

    • Senior Scientist, Electrolyte – SES AI, United States – View details
    • Senior Electrode Engineer/ Scientist – Alsym Energy, United States – View details
    • Director, Engineering Applications – American Battery Solutions Inc., United States – View details
    • Product Manager – Stryten Energy, United States – View details
    • Director of Sales UK & EMEA – Invinity Energy Systems, United States – View details
    • Casting Operator I – Trojan Battery Company, United States – View details
    • Supplier Quality Management Engineer – Contemporary Amperex Technology USA Inc, United States – View details
    • Engineer, Process Integration – Sila Nanotechnologies, Inc., United States – View details

Thanks for reading this week’s digest. Subscribe or stay connected for weekly updates on batteries, energy storage, and EV supply chains.

Share This Post

Logo_Battery-Tech-Network_Thumbnail

Subscribe To Our
Weekly Newsletter​

Logo_Battery-Tech-Network_Thumbnail

Let's connect

And Find Out How We Can Work Together