BatteryTech News & Updates — 2026 #4

January 25, 2026

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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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⭕ Latest Article

Why DONUT Lab’s Solid-State Battery Claim Faces Industry Confusion Despite Production Timeline15. January 2026

⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

🔋 Germany Opens €3B EV Subsidy to Automakers, Including China

Germany’s €3 billion EV subsidy offers €1,500–€6,000 per car and is open to all automakers, including Chinese brands such as BYD, to encourage low- and middle-income EV purchases and aims for 800,000 new electric vehicles by 2029. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/germany-opens-e3b-ev-subsidy-to-automakers-including-china/

🔋 EVE Energy’s Battery Plant Joins Global Lighthouse Network

EVE Energy’s cylindrical battery facility was recognized as the first lighthouse factory in its sector by the World Economic Forum and McKinsey, showcasing 40+ digital solutions, automation, 95% equipment efficiency and 97% yield. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/eve-energys-battery-plant-joins-global-lighthouse-network/

🔋 Canada and China Slash EV Tariffs in Historic Deal

Canada and China agreed to cut EV import tariffs to a 6.1% rate, speed certification to eight weeks and cap annual shipments at 49,000 vehicles, improving market access for companies including Tesla, Volvo and Polestar while enabling other OEMs to enter sooner. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/canada-and-china-slash-ev-tariffs-in-historic-deal/

🔋 EU Denies Hybrid Tariffs on Chinese Cars, BEV Duties Stay

An EU trade spokesman confirmed there is no WTO-backed investigation into Chinese hybrid vehicle imports; only fully electric cars faced a 35.3% anti-subsidy duty following a 2023 probe, which China addressed via minimum price commitments. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/eu-denies-hybrid-tariffs-on-chinese-cars-bev-duties-stay

⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

🔋 Maxell Debuts Rechargeable Solid-State Module for ER Cells

Maxell launched an all-solid-state battery power module sized and rated at 3.6 V to match standard ER cells; the rechargeable unit uses eight PSB401010H cells, provides 35 mAh capacity, USB charging and operates from −40 °C to 125 °C. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/maxell-debuts-rechargeable-solid-state-module-for-er-cells/

🔋 Chery’s Exeed Liefeng to Debut Solid-State Battery in 2026

Chery’s Exeed will introduce the Liefeng shooting brake with an in-house Rhino S solid-state battery reporting 600 Wh/kg energy density for up to 1,500 km range at −30 °C, plus an 800 V architecture and a 30,000 rpm motor. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/cherys-exeed-liefeng-to-debut-solid-state-battery-in-2026/

🔋 LG Energy Solution Builds Sodium-Ion Pilot Line in China

LG Energy Solution is constructing a pilot sodium-ion battery production line at its Nanjing facility, expecting to produce sample cells within the year to assess scale-up feasibility while drawing on China’s component supply chain. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/lg-energy-solution-builds-sodium-ion-pilot-line-in-china/

🔋 CATL Debuts Sodium-Ion Pack for Light Commercial Vehicles

CATL introduced a mass-produced 45 kWh sodium-ion battery pack for light commercial vehicles in its Tectrans II series, designed for −30 °C to −40 °C operation and featuring fast-charge, long-range and swap-compatible modules. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/catl-debuts-sodium-ion-pack-for-light-commercial-vehicles/

🔋 Hongqi Rolls Out Tiangong06 Prototype With Solid-State Battery

Hongqi unveiled the Tiangong06 prototype as its first all-solid-state battery vehicle, developed with a sulfide electrolyte and reporting 380 Wh/kg energy density after 470 days of development, with plans targeting small-scale production in late 2027. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/hongqi-rolls-out-tiangong06-prototype-with-solid-state-battery/

⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID

🔋 Connected Energy Opens UK Second-Life EV Battery Test Hub

Connected Energy is building its first fully owned second-life EV battery test and 5 MWh storage facility at Scottow Enterprise Park, Norfolk, backed by a £2M grant to repurpose retired bus and truck batteries for grid-scale use by mid-2026. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/connected-energy-opens-uk-second-life-ev-battery-test-hub/

🔋 Envision Energy, Samruk-Kazyna Partner on BESS in Kazakhstan

Envision Energy and Samruk-Kazyna Invest signed a Joint Development Agreement at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 to assemble and manufacture battery energy storage systems in Kazakhstan to strengthen the regional supply chain and support grid resilience. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/envision-energy-samruk-kazyna-partner-on-bess-in-kazakhstan/

🔋 Skeleton and Hyosung Launch Korea’s First Next-Gen e-STATCOM

Skeleton Technologies, Hyosung Heavy Industries and Marubeni signed an MOU to deliver Korea’s first domestically produced next-gen e-STATCOM by 2027, integrating Skeleton’s supercapacitors with Hyosung’s STATCOM for rapid grid stabilization and Marubeni’s APAC distribution. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/skeleton-and-hyosung-launch-koreas-first-next-gen-e-statcom/

⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS

🔋 Syrah Resources Extends Deadline in Graphite Supply Dispute

Syrah Resources agreed to a third extension and set a new cure date of March 16, 2026 to resolve a dispute with an automaker over delivery of conforming graphite anode material from its Vidalia, Louisiana plant under a 2021 supply agreement. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/syrah-resources-extends-deadline-in-graphite-supply-dispute/

🔋 Portugal’s Lifthium Secures €180M Grant for Lithium Refinery

Portugal’s Lifthium Energy received a €180 million EU grant to build a lithium hydroxide refinery in Estarreja targeting 50 kt/year capacity by 2030 for EV batteries; the company is seeking partners and evaluating a second plant in Spain. Read more: https://battery-tech.net/battery-markets-news/portugals-lifthium-secures-e180m-grant-for-lithium-refinery/