Global Scans · Batteries · Weekly Summary

• [New] Several Chinese EV giants are shaping up as formidable competitors, as both BYD and CATL have announced plans to initiate small-scale production of solid-state EV batteries in 2027. Engadget
• [New] A solid-state battery could potentially reach 80 to 90% of its charge in a matter of minutes. Engadget
• [New] Honda took a major step toward producing its much-anticipated solid-state battery system in June 2026, striking a new partnership that it hopes will propel the automotive giant towards carbon neutrality. Engadget
• [New] Pairing electric bus charging infrastructure with appropriately sized battery storage and solar generation could reduce utility costs by more than 35% and generate approximately $15 million in lifecycle savings at a bus depot over a 20-year period. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] At Wards Island, DEP is advancing a 10 MW solar and 10 MW battery storage project expected to become the world's largest clean energy installation at a wastewater treatment facility. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] The first eVTOL (battery-powered) aircraft are expected to receive FAA certification within the next one to two years, St. Insurance Journal
• [New] Today, Ultium Cells LLC, a joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, announced that it will begin producing lithium-iron phosphate batteries for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) enabled by a $70M investment in process retooling to be completed by Q2 2026. Ultium Cells LLC
• [New] Reliance Industries plans to establish a 40 GWh battery gigafactory in India in 2026, while CATL & Stellantis have been advancing the development of a 50 GWh gigafactory in Zaragoza, Spain. DataM Intelligence
• [New] Agratas, part of the Tata Group, is building a major battery factory near Bridgwater, Somerset and is expected to create thousands of jobs and supply almost half of the UK automotive sector's battery manufacturing capacity by the early 2030s. GOV.UK
• [New] Samsung SDI has entered into a conditional procurement agreement to purchase battery cells produced at Forge Nano's Gigafactory starting in 2028. AZOM
• [New] Compliance is becoming operational The Digital Battery Passport becomes mandatory in 2027. LinkedIn
• Reflecting the continued momentum in home battery installations and sustained longer durations, Modo Energy's consumer energy resources forecast now reaches 28.7 GWh of household battery capacity by 2030. Modo Energy
• A notable 2026 development was the rise of standalone battery storage as critical infrastructure for AI loads, with deployments focusing on safety enhancements in regions prone to environmental hazards like wildfires in the US West and Europe. Grokipedia
• Sodium-ion batteries, advanced by startups like Alsym Energy, showed promise for industrial backup power and data center reliability as of early 2026, leveraging abundant materials for cost-effective, low-fire-risk storage that supports daily charge-discharge cycles. Grokipedia
• Companies like CATL announced commercial-scale deployment of sodium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, highlighting their affordability due to abundant raw materials and projected costs nearing lithium-ion parity by mid-decade. Grokipedia
• Demand for storage batteries surged 51% in 2025, roughly double the growth rate of EV batteries, and JPMorgan expects storage to account for 30% of global lithium demand in 2026, rising to 36% by 2030. usfunds
• Kia plans to work exclusively with PV5 models equipped with the long-range 71-kWh battery option, good for an estimated 247 miles (398 km) per charge. New Atlas
• Rio Tinto's Rincon project is targeting 60,000 tonnes a year of battery-grade lithium carbonate, with first production from the expansion scheduled for 2028 and a three-year ramp-up. LME Insight
• China's major battery makers are racing to commercialize solid-state batteries, with several manufacturers, including CATL (HKEX: 3750) and BYD (HKEX: 1211), planning small-batch vehicle installation around 2027. CnEVPost
• Late 2026 to 2027 will mark the point of cost parity between sodium-ion and LFP batteries. Gasgoo Auto News
• Solid-state batteries (QuantumScape, Solid Power) targeting 400-500 Wh / kg at pack level - expected post-2028 - would increase viable range to 200-350 km while reducing the battery mass fraction to 20-25%. Energy Solutions Intelligence
• Solid-state battery qualification for aviation applications (vibration, thermal runaway containment, altitude tolerance) adds an estimated 3-4 years beyond automotive qualification timelines - meaning solid-state eVTOL batteries are unlikely before 2030-2031. Energy Solutions Intelligence

Last updated: 09 August 2026