Global Scans · Batteries · Weekly Summary

• [New] California's rapid expansion of battery storage is central to its strategy to reach 100% clean electricity by 2045, and renewables already supply nearly 67% of in-state retail electricity sales. POWER Magazine
• [New] Analysts expect BYD to have sold more battery-electric vehicles worldwide for a fifth consecutive quarter, driven by strong sales in China and momentum in Europe, where Tesla has been unable to obtain regulatory approval for FSD. Whalesbook
• [New] Global vanadium demand for energy storage is projected to rise 31% by 2026, accelerating advanced battery innovation. Farmonaut
• [New] 2026 models will integrate solar-assisted charging or advanced power management, making current batteries seem primitive by comparison. WebProNews
• [New] By 2026, Argentina is forecast to outpace several competitors in lithium production, shifting the global market's balance and influencing everything from electric vehicle manufacturing to massive battery storage projects. Farmonaut
• [New] Sodium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage are already being deployed and will accelerate significantly in 2026. TechCrunch
• [New] Closed-Loop Recycling: Advances in catalyst and battery recycling will boost US vanadium pentoxide supply and reduce environmental burdens. Farmonaut
• [New] In 2026, smartphones will feature deeper AI integration, mainstream foldables like Apple's potential entry, enhanced batteries, and improved performance. WebProNews
• [New] The 2026 Rivian R1 S Dual Standard employs dual permanent-magnet synchronous electric motors - one front and one rear - producing 533 hp and 610 lb-ft, powered by a 92.5 kWh lithium-iron-phosphate Standard battery through single-speed direct-drive transmissions and all-wheel drive. CarBuzz
• [New] 7.8% of all cars sold in 2025 will be battery-electric, down from 8.1% in 2024. insideevs
• [New] The Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., or CATL, is nearing completion on what could be one of Europe's largest electric vehicle battery factories. Wired
• [New] Factorial is not worried about US automakers, such as Ford, pulling back on EV plans, because it believes new battery technology will help boost adoption. Electrek
• [New] Argentina is projected to produce over 30% of global lithium supply by 2026, impacting battery and EV industries worldwide. Farmonaut
• [New] Amprius' NDAA-compliant 2+ GWh silicon anode battery manufacturing network in South Korea establishes a secure, allied supply chain for high-energy-density drone power systems, directly addressing defence procurement vulnerabilities while enabling extended-range UAV operations. Drone Warfare
• [New] Globally electric vehicles continue to see cost reductions, with battery pack prices declining to $108 per kilowatt-hour in 2025, according to BloombergNEF, with upfront price parity expected within the next few years. Zero Emission Transportation Association
• [New] Finding ways to coordinate use of Australia's rapidly growing household energy storage capacity and tapping into EV batteries through V2G technology could avoid overspending on grid-scale storage. The Conversation
• [New] Announced recycling capacity is already sufficient to manage all end-of-life batteries through 2030. RMI
• [New] Battery metal prices increased in 2025, in part due to supply risks at certain Chinese lithium assets and new cobalt export quotas in the Democratic Republic of Congo. BloombergNEF
• [New] India's rush stinks of desperation: from insistent overtures to acquire Russian S-400 batteries while being threatened under U.S. CAATSA, to flip-flopping to American BECA geospatial data-sharing in the latest defence pact. The Friday Times
• [New] Tesla is opening domestic LFP battery fabrication in 2026. The Sweaty Penguin
• [New] Scaling recycling capacity to process projected battery waste streams requires substantial infrastructure investment over the next decade. Discovery Alert
• [New] Polar Night Energy will act as the main contractor for the construction project, with on-site work beginning in early 2026, and the Sand Battery will be completed in summer 2027. Energy-Storage.News

Last updated: 04 January 2026