Sion Power, a leader in next-generation lithium-metal battery technology, has progressed its commercialization efforts for Licerion® battery technology by installing a new large-format battery cell production line in partnership with Mühlbauer Group. This development marks a significant milestone in demonstrating the scalability of Sion Power’s proprietary lithium-metal anode technology for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers.
The Licerion® technology addresses key challenges in mass EV adoption, including range, cost, and charge time. By utilizing lithium metal, Licerion® achieves double the energy density compared to graphite and silicon anode solutions. This advancement is anticipated to reduce the cost of a 200 kWh battery pack by 35%, achieved through a 15% decrease in cell material costs and a 20% reduction in cell count. Additionally, the technology enables charge times comparable to the average 8-minute refuel time at gas stations. Licerion® batteries offer over 400 Wh/kg and are produced at scale in large-format cells, promising significant enhancements in the performance of both commercial and consumer electric vehicles.
The newly established production line is capable of manufacturing large-format battery cells exceeding 50 amp-hours, a critical step in meeting automotive standards. Tracy Kelly, President of Sion Power, stated, “The ability to scale performance from small prototype cells to large-format cells is often where battery technologies face the greatest challenge. Our new manufacturing line bridges that gap, demonstrating the capability of our lithium-metal battery technology in formats applicable to real-world applications.”
The fully automated production line is projected to produce 75 MWh of 56 Ah lithium metal cells annually. Prior to this, Sion Power utilized an automated assembly line for various cell formats, including lab-scale and six-amp-hour cells, while larger-format cells were produced on a semi-automated line. The new line significantly improves production efficiency and quality control for larger-format cells, which are essential for validating performance, cycle life, and manufacturability at scale.
The production line supports multiple objectives, including technology development, joint development efforts with strategic partners, and customer validation by supplying large-format cells for evaluating Licerion® technology in relevant applications. Josef Markus Mühlbauer, CEO of Mühlbauer Group, highlighted the partnership, stating, “Our strong commitment to the market, highlighted by an investment of more than 100 million euros in the last five years, allows us to partner with cutting-edge, next-generation battery companies such as Sion Power.”
In addition to expanding its production capabilities, Sion Power has strengthened its leadership team by appointing Liz Rojewski as Chief Operating Officer and Mitch Hourtienne as Chief Commercial Officer. These appointments aim to accelerate the company’s path to commercialization and enhance customer engagement and supply chain strategy.
Pam Fletcher, CEO of Sion Power, emphasized the significance of the new production capacity, stating, “This is a significant step in developing lithium metal chemistry and helps ensure we will be volume production-ready in 2028.”
Source: Sion Power
