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⭕ Latest Article
⭕ BATTERY TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
🔋 Karma and Factorial Launch U.S. Solid-State Battery Program
Karma and solid-state specialist Factorial will co-develop the U.S.’s first production-grade solid-state batteries for passenger vehicles, debuting in Karma’s 1,000-hp Kaveya super-coupe slated for late 2027. Read more
🔋 China’s Automakers Speed Up Solid-State Battery Pilot Plans
China’s top automakers and battery suppliers are fast-tracking solid-state battery development with prototype vehicles planned for 2026, pilot production and 1,000 demos in 2027, and small-batch output ahead of a 2030 500 Wh/kg energy density goal. Read more
🔋 MixItUp Enables Inline Real-Time Battery Slurry Measurement
RWTH Aachen’s PEM lab and SURAGUS launched MixItUp to embed an eddy-current sensor with FPGA-based processing into battery slurry mixers, measuring conductivity, homogeneity and particle distribution inline for real-time monitoring and control. Read more
🔋 Recent Sodium-Ion Batteries Gain Ground Despite Key Limits
Advances in sodium-ion batteries improved low-temperature performance and reduced reliance on lithium, increasing interest despite lower energy density and China-centric supply chains that constrain wider market adoption. Read more
🔋 Svolt’s Dragon Armor 3.0 Battery Boosts Safety and Density
Svolt’s Dragon Armor 3.0 pack separates terminals from pressure relief vents to direct flames downward, integrates CTC/CTB architecture for up to 10% higher energy density, and adds liquid-solid technology to improve thermal safety. Read more
🔋 NEO Doubles Drone Flight Time with New Battery Cells
NEO Battery Materials’ new drone cells nearly doubled flight time from 29.9 to 59.2 minutes in cold-weather tests, producing 755 Wh and 260 Wh/kg, with 28% higher efficiency and 50% faster charging toward commercial readiness. Read more
🔋 Gangfeng Lithium Starts 650 Wh/kg Hybrid Battery Production
Gangfeng Lithium began mass production of solid-liquid hybrid batteries achieving 650 Wh/kg using a multi-element lithium alloy and is sampling all-solid-state packs with the same alloy anodes to improve safety, cycle life and fast charging. Read more
🔋 Organic Lithium Battery Hits 250 Wh/kg, Operates –70°C to 80°C
Chinese researchers demonstrated an organic lithium battery prototype using a poly(benzodifurandione) cathode with energy densities above 250 Wh/kg, operation from –70 °C to 80 °C, and successful mechanical and safety tests. Read more
⭕ INDUSTRY & MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
🔋 DHL Opens First EV Center of Excellence in Slovakia
On Feb. 12, 2026, DHL Supply Chain opened its first Central European EV Center of Excellence at a 26,000 m2 Senec, Slovakia facility. It is one of 20 centers offering end-to-end logistics for lithium-ion batteries, EV parts, testing and charging. Read more
🔋 China NEV Sales Slip 20% in January, First Dip Since 2024
In January 2026, China’s NEV retail sales fell to 596,000 units, down 20% year-over-year and 55% from December amid weaker demand and incentive cuts; BEV and hybrid sales slumped while NEV exports more than doubled. Read more
🔋 Xiaomi Reaches 600,000 EV Deliveries Milestone in 22 Months
Xiaomi surpassed 600,000 EV deliveries since April 2024; January’s 39,002 YU7 SUV units followed 410,000 deliveries in 2025 and the company now targets 550,000 vehicles in 2026. Read more
🔋 Geely Leads Chinese Auto Sales Amid January Slowdown
China’s January passenger vehicle market shrank 13.9% year-on-year to 1.544 million units as Geely led retail and wholesale sales; BYD’s retail volume plunged 53% and Huawei’s HIMA brand entered the top 10. Read more
🔋 Ford Proposes Sino-U.S. EV Joint Ventures for Production
Ford CEO Jim Farley proposed allowing Chinese automakers to build vehicles in the U.S. through joint ventures controlled by American firms, sharing profits and technology while addressing political concerns. Read more
🔋 Global Lithium-Ion Battery Market Tops $150B in 2025
The global lithium-ion battery market exceeded $150 billion in 2025, a 20% gain driven by EV adoption and energy storage; cost declines led by LFP cells accelerated growth but highlighted concentrated supply risks. Read more
🔋 ACC Expands EU Battery Output Despite Market Uncertainty
ACC doubled output and cut scrap rates at its Hauts-de-France gigafactory, paused new German and Italian plant plans amid slower EV growth, and called for €750–800 billion in European investment. Read more
🔋 India Plans 30 Gigafactories to Reach 290 GWh by 2030
India aims to deploy 30+ gigafactories by 2030 for 290 GWh capacity across EVs, energy storage and renewables, but only 1 GWh is operational amid raw material shortages, supply-chain constraints and a skilled labor gap. Read more
🔋 ElevenEs Lands Series B to Build 1 GWh LFP Plant in Serbia
ElevenEs closed a Series B led by Caterpillar Venture Capital and a BST affiliate to finance a 1 GWh LFP battery cell plant in Subotica, Serbia; construction starts in 2026 with first cells due in 2027 for industrial and EV markets. Read more
🔋 New Waaree 16GWh Gigafactory Expands India’s Battery Output
Waaree Energies received Andhra Pradesh approval to build a 16 GWh lithium-ion gigafactory in Rambilli with an INR 8,175 crore investment, creating about 3,000 jobs and covering cell production, pack assembly and large-scale storage systems. Read more
🔋 Mass-Produced Audi E7X Electric SUV Debuts in China Tests
Audi and SAIC revealed the production-ready E7X during cold-weather trials in China; the five-meter electric SUV offers up to 670 hp, LiDAR-enhanced autonomous features, RWD and AWD layouts, and 635–751 km range on 100–109.3 kWh packs. Read more
⭕ ENERGY STORAGE & GRID
🔋 Network-Directed Batteries for Underutilized Power Grids
Network-directed battery storage paired with digital protocols can balance grid load, relieve congestion, and optimize assets to boost reliability and lower costs where transmission lines are underused. Read more
🔋 Battery Storage Costs Plummet to Record Lows in 2025
BloombergNEF reports four-hour battery storage costs fell 27% to $78/MWh in 2025, a record low since 2009, driven by lower pack prices and design advances while solar and wind LCOEs rose. Read more
🔋 ESS Tech Acquires VoltStorage IP, Grows Iron Flow Batteries
ESS Tech completed its acquisition of VoltStorage’s iron-salt battery IP and assets and integrated VoltStorage’s team to broaden its iron flow battery platform for flexible long-duration storage at lower cost. Read more
🔋 Energy Vault Secures $135.5M, Targets Sodium-Ion and Storage Growth
Energy Vault closed a $135.5 million financing round, projects $5–10 million positive adjusted EBITDA in Q4 2025, boosted cash above $100 million, and is diversifying into sodium-ion batteries while expanding its asset portfolio. Read more
⭕ MINING & BATTERY MATERIALS
🔋 EnergyX Begins Commercial Membrane Production Line in Austin
EnergyX started commercial production of ion exchange membranes at its Austin facility, making up to 500,000 m2 annually for lithium separation technology to reduce supply chain risk and cut costs. Read more
🔋 French State Invests €50M in Imerys EMILI Lithium Project
Banque des Territoires will invest €50M for a minority stake in Imerys’ EMILI lithium project in Allier to support the feasibility study and strengthen France’s strategic battery mineral supply chain. Read more
🔋 Albemarle Idles Final Train at Kemerton Lithium Plant
Albemarle will idle the last operating train at its Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia, pausing expansion plans and boosting financial flexibility amid volatile prices while relying on other channels to meet 2026 volumes. Read more
🔋 Rio Tinto Assumes Majority Stake in Nemaska Lithium
Rio Tinto acquired a 53.9% stake in Nemaska Lithium with Québec holding 46.1%, assumed direct management and is investing more than US$300 million; the Bécancour hydroxide plant is 60% complete and aims to commission in 2026 for production by 2028. Read more
⭕ BATTERY RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY
🔋 Cirba Solutions Celebrates 35 Years of Battery Recycling
Cirba Solutions marked 35 years of battery recycling across North America, pioneered commercial lithium-ion processing, expanded capacity by 600% and invested over $400 million in critical minerals. Read more
🔋 New Recircle.market Unifies EU Battery Reuse and Recycling
Minespider launched the MVP of Recircle.market, a digital ecosystem connecting stakeholders across Europe’s EV battery life cycle for reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling and integrating Digital Battery Passports to improve data transparency. Read more
⭕ Events, Conferences & Trade Shows
Upcoming Events
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- 📅 March 4–5: 28TH INTERNATIONAL POWER INDUSTRY AND RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY FAIR ENEX
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- 📅 March 10–12: THE BATTERY SHOW ASIA 2026
- 📅 March 11–12: BENCHMARK GIGA EUROPE 2026
- 📅 March 11–12: BATTERY TECH USA 2026
- 📅 March 11–13: INTERBATTERY 2026
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- 📅 March 17–18: RENMAD ALMACENAMIENTO 2026
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- 📅 AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY TECH SUMMIT 2026 (discount code available)
- 📅 NEW ENERGY INDUSTRY CHAIN EXPO, CLNB 2026 (10% discount)
- 📅 BATTERY FORUM POLAND 2026
- 📅 THE BATTERY SHOW EUROPE 2026
- 📅 ICBR 2026 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS FOR BATTERY RECYCLING
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