FREYR and Nidec finalize battery manufacturing JV, release results of cell testing


In September, FREYR Battery and Japanese electric motor producer Nidec announced plans to establish a downstream joint venture to produce battery modules and packs. Now the new JV, Nidec Energy, has been officially established. Mass production is expected to commence in 2025, and the goal is to manufacture more than 8 GWh per year of… Read more »

How NanoGraf is commercializing the “world’s most energy-dense” 18650 battery cell with stable silicon dioxide


Q&A with NanoGraf COO Connor Hund Graphite, a pure form of carbon, is a critical material for battery anodes. Graphite’s physical structure allows it to store lithium ions, which merrily migrate to the anode when the battery is charged. Unlike cathodes, which can be composed of various combinations of chemicals (cobalt, nickel, manganese, lithium, iron,… Read more »

Statevolt acquires Imperial Valley, California site to build battery gigafactory


Battery startup Statevolt has acquired a 135-acre site near the Salton Sea in Imperial Valley, California, for a new 54 GWh gigafactory. The company says it intends to manufacture batteries for EVs and storage applications using exclusively US resources and supply chains as part of its hyperlocal business model. According to Statevolt, the location was… Read more »

TWAICE battery analytics software earns TISAX label for automotive cybersecurity


TWAICE, a provider of battery analytics software, has obtained the TISAX label for cybersecurity. TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is a globally recognized standard for cybersecurity in the automotive and industrial automation sectors. To earn the TISAX label, TWAICE completed an assessment process to verify that it meets TISAX’s standards for information security, including… Read more »

Identifying the root cause of particle contamination in electronic automotive components


Sponsored by Zeiss. Production processes, the production environment, and the final packaging all have an influence on component cleanliness. As a result, compliance agreements with limiting values often need to be implemented between the customer and supplier or between product development and production. This means that the cleanliness requirements are not fixed and can be… Read more »

Microchip introduces hybrid power drive module for electric aviation applications 


US integrated circuit manufacturer Microchip Technology has announced its new comprehensive three-phase hybrid power drive module, which is the first of 12 variants in the company’s product line with either silicon carbide metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors or insulated-gate bipolar transistors.   Microchip says its new module helps meet the needs of electric aircraft designers who are looking… Read more »

Kyocera AVX introduces automotive-qualified supercapacitors


US electronic components manufacturer Kyocera AVX has launched its first automotive-qualified supercapacitors, also known as cylindrical, electrochemical, double-layer capacitors. According to the company, its five SCC Series supercapacitors are tested and qualified to the AEC-Q200 standard, meeting test conditions designed to replicate the mechanical and electrical conditions in automotive applications. They are rated for 25… Read more »

Redwood Materials to receive $2-billion DOE loan, begins production of anode foil


Redwood Materials, the battery recycling firm headed by Tesla alum JB Straubel, has received conditional commitment for a $2-billion loan from the DOE’s Loan Program Office as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVM). Redwood will draw upon this financing in tranches to support the phased construction and expansion of its battery… Read more »

Ensorcia invests €200 million to build lithium hydroxide conversion plant in Europe


Chile-based Ensorcia Metals, a specialist in extraction and transformation of lithium, reports that as a first step in its global expansion plans, it will invest €200 million for the construction of a European lithium hydroxide conversion plant under the auspices of its subsidiary, Sorcia Europe. According to Ensorcia, operations are to begin in 2025 with… Read more »

Was Britishvolt’s collapse the beginning of the end for the UK auto industry?


When Charged spoke with execs from aspiring battery manufacturer Britishvolt back in May of 2022, we were impressed by the company’s big ambitions and innovative ideas. We were very disappointed to hear of its recent demise, but not unduly surprised. As is typically the case in nascent industries, the attrition rate among EV-related companies is… Read more »