Industry news

Regulators in California have been warned that new moves to increase pressure on producers of lead-acid batteries risk “hindering” state energy goals.

South Korea has called on China to ensure “a fair business environment” for battery manufacturers to compete for business across the two countries. 

Mining firms have unveiled a blueprint they say could transform Australia into a global battery development hub— and grab a multi-billion-dollar slice of the “lithium value chain”.

China’s Tianqi Lithium is set to become a key shareholder of the world’s second largest producer of lithium— in a move to strengthen Chinese influence on the battery raw materials market.

EU leaders have been warned against ignoring lead-acid technology when selecting battery “winners” and bestowing alternative chemistries with millions of euros in fresh funding for advanced battery research.

German battery manufacturer Akasol has unveiled its first cylindrical-cells battery system with very high energy density which it claims can boost the driving range of plug-in hybrid commercial vehicles “by more that 60%”.

The boss of Nissan batteries in the UK, Jeff Pratt, is to head a new national centre supporting government plans to develop next-generation battery systems for the automotive sector.

When is a battery show not a battery show? When what it features is mainly related to dealing with non energy storage issues like getting rid of heat and containing fires— at least that’s your scribe’s take on the much publicised Battery Show Europe at the Hannover Messe last week. I’ve renamed it— Vehicle electrification systems today or VEST.

A “large-scale battery” research lab is being set up in Wales with the backing of key industry players.

East Penn Manufacturing has signed a commercial arrangement with New Zealand-based ArcActive to further develop carbon fibre electrode technology for lead batteries.