April Newsletter 2025
- Battery Associates
- May 23
- 9 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ April newsletter. We have summarised some of the month’s most relevant news, highlighting recent developments and updates in the battery space.
B.A's Battery Newsletter:
Battery Industry Highlights
BA Exclusive Summary: Exploring Sodium-ion Battery Technology
Company Member News
Looking for Sponsors for Battery Day 2025
New Battery Insiders Podcast: Multilevel Inverters: A Key Innovation for Battery Integration? - Niclas Lehnert, co-founder of Pulsetrain
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On 29 April, LG Energy Solution announced a joint venture (JV) with French metal recycler Derichebourg to build a battery recycling plant in Bruyères-sur-Oise, France. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with operations commencing in 2027. The facility will process 20,000 tons/year of battery scrap and specialise in pre-processing, mainly discharging, dismantling, shredding battery scrap, and collecting end-of-life EV batteries, to extract black mass for refining lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
B.A Commentary: This JV bolsters LG’s closed-loop battery material strategy, which is critical under the EU's 2031 recycled content mandate. Partnering with Derichebourg deepens LG’s vertical integration and regional resilience, particularly as Europe intensifies efforts around sustainable supply chains. Processing battery scrap volumes ensures strategic material recovery and positions LG to meet soaring demand for recycled inputs in future gigafactory operations.
On 8 April, Seri Industrial (FAAM) secured €150M in pooled financing, backed by SACE’s Archimede guarantee, to expand its Teverola LFP lithium cell and module plant. The Teverola 2 project will boost capacity from 300 MWh to 8 GWh annually and add a new pilot line to recycle 50 tons/day of end-of-life batteries.
B.A Commentary: Teverola 2’s expansion enhances Europe’s energy security while targeting diverse markets, like energy storage systems, motive power, naval, and electric mobility. The integrated recycling capability reflects a commitment to circularity, which is essential under EU sustainability directives.
On 21 April, CATL unveiled Naxtra, the first mass-produced sodium-ion battery with an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles. It enables 90% power retention at -40°C and functions between -40°C to +70°C. Naxtra introduces three dual-power systems: Sodium-LFP (for cold resilience), LFP-LFP (1,000 km range), and NCM-LFP/NCM-NCM (12C charge, 1 MW output, 1,500 km range).
B.A Commentary: CATL's sodium-ion debut addresses global lithium supply vulnerabilities while broadening electrification options. Naxtra's cold resilience and cost benefits suit commercial, low-cost, and high-latitude use cases. The hybrid Freevoy platform marks a new design paradigm, leveraging chemistry synergies for optimised performance, cost, and energy throughput. Integrating sodium-ion into mainstream EV design is a milestone in resource diversification and reinforcing CATL’s lithium-free path and chemistry-flexible architectures. |
On 30 April, German battery manufacturer CustomCells filed for insolvency proceedings for its key operating entities in Itzehoe and Tübingen. The move follows the insolvency and payment default of its largest customer, Lilium, resulting in unpaid receivables in the tens of millions of euros. Despite efforts, no new investors were secured to offset these losses. Business operations will continue, with employee wages secured through June 2025. The holding company remains unaffected.
B.A Commentary: CustomCells' insolvency underscores the risks of heavy reliance on single clients in emerging sectors like eVTOLs. The collapse of Lilium not only disrupted CustomCells' cash flow but also highlighted the fragility of supply chains in nascent industries. This event may prompt battery manufacturers to diversify their client base and investors to scrutinise the financial health of startups more closely. |
On 11 April, MAN Truck & Bus inaugurated battery pack production in Nuremberg after a €100M investment and plans to invest an additional €150M to localise module production and develop next-gen battery tech. Up to 50,000 packs/year are planned, scalable to 100,000 by 2030. €18M of the new funding is subsidised by Bavaria, alongside €30M from Bavaria to support R&D in cell chemistry, safety, and ageing.
B.A Commentary: MAN’s battery production launch in Nuremberg is a steady step toward aligning with the industry’s shift to electrification. The investment in both manufacturing and research demonstrates a balanced approach, focusing on gradual capability building. Support from federal and regional governments reinforces the project's strategic value, while in-house module production may offer modest gains in efficiency and long-term product development. |
BA Exclusive Summary
Exploring Sodium-ion Battery Technology
Sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries are rapidly emerging as a competitive alternative to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, particularly for large-scale and cost-sensitive energy storage applications. When CATL first announced its sodium-ion battery, the energy density was approximately 160 Wh/kg, with a claimed cycle life ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 cycles, and an operational temperature range from -20°C to 90°C.
CATL has also optimised its lithium iron phosphate (LFP) technology, achieving an energy density of 210 Wh/kg and a cycle life of 4,000 to 8,000 cycles, which remains higher than the early sodium-ion prototypes. Furthermore, CATL announced plans to improve the energy density of sodium-ion cells and plans to begin commercial production by 2025.
On April 21, CATL unveiled Naxtra, the first mass-produced sodium-ion battery, featuring an energy density of 175 Wh/kg and a cycle life exceeding 10,000 cycles. Impressively, it maintains 90% power retention even at -40°C and operates effectively within a wide temperature range of -40°C to +70°C. This battery functions well under extremely cold conditions, and its cycle life surpasses that of CATL’s LFP batteries.
At scale, Na-ion batteries are projected to be 20–40% cheaper than LFP batteries, making them particularly appealing for grid-scale storage and affordable mobility solutions. Their appeal lies in supply chain resilience, cost-effectiveness, enhanced performance metrics, and robustness under extreme conditions. It remains to be seen how much market share the sodium-ion battery chemistry will ultimately capture and whether it will mirror the historical competition between LFP and NMC chemistries.
Company Member News
Industries Excellence
Industries eXcellence is hosting a webinar with Siemens titled "Eng IndX & Siemens: Your Roadmap to EU Battery Passport Compliance" on Thursday, 15th May, at 10am CET.
The EU Battery Passport Regulation is poised to reshape battery manufacturing, supply chains, and sustainability by requiring companies to manage and report extensive data throughout the battery lifecycle, with mandatory digital passports for certain batteries from February 2027. This webinar, hosted by Engineering Industries eXcellence and Siemens, will address the main compliance challenges, including data fragmentation and evolving reporting standards, and demonstrate how digital solutions and system integration can help companies overcome these hurdles, accelerate readiness, and unlock long-term value. Attendees will gain practical insights, see real-world examples, and experience a live software demonstration covering key topics such as regulatory requirements, data management, lifecycle roles, system integration, and the features of Siemens’ Battery Passport solution.
Please register here if interested.
ThermoFisher Scientific
Analytical methods are essential for the characterization of lithium-ion batteries during development, manufacturing and recycling. Our 2-part webinar series on May 20-21 explores the use of analytical technologies in these areas. Part 1 on May 20 will focus on battery recycling and the techniques used before, during and after the process. Part 2 on May 21 will focus on the characterization of electrolytes and how detailed composition and impurities can impact the efficiency and reliability of lithium-ion batteries.
Learn in these sessions how the use of analytical instrumentation and its data can help optimize battery performance and lifespan. Register now!
Register for the BatteryMBA May 2025 Cohort
BatteryMBA’s next cohort started on 5th May 2025, which will offer a combination of in-depth technical and business knowledge on a range of battery topics aligned with the sector's dynamic growth. We are still taking registrants this week.
BatteryMBA alumni have affiliations with Tesla, Farasis Energy, JLR, Airbus, Hitachi High-Tech Europe, Schlumberger, Bertrandt Group, AMTE Power, the University of Birmingham, the European Parliament, and many others.
The course includes a battery-focused case study track (with case studies from leading business schools). If you have any queries, reach out to us via email at info@battery.mba. Need-based partial scholarships and group discounts are available.
Looking for Sponsors for Battery Day 2025!
Battery Day 2025 will be held on Thursday, 25th September 2025, bringing together industry leaders for discussions on key battery innovations. Last year, the event featured 6 panel discussions, 8 deep dives, and 4 keynotes, attracting 1000+ registrants from over 55 countries.
As a sponsor, you’ll enjoy benefits like prominent logo placement on our website and marketing materials, a dedicated email to registrants, and social media mentions. We’re also happy to explore custom sponsorship options to suit your needs.
Our three major themes for Battery Day 2025 are:
Battery energy storage systems (BESS)
Next-generation batteries and battery innovations
Manufacturing, gigafactories and cost reduction strategies
Please get in touch with Clara today to enquire about sponsorship packages at clara.leepaget@battery.associates.
Battery Insiders Podcast
Battery Associates runs a podcast called Battery Insiders, which covers the role of batteries for sustainable development and battery-relevant topics featuring a range of battery experts and enthusiasts.
Talk on: Multilevel Inverters: A Key Innovation for Battery Integration?
Speaker: Niclas Lehnert, co-founder of Pulsetrain
Session Summary: In this episode of the Battery Insiders Podcast, Dr. Simon Engelke interviews Niclas Lehnert, co-founder of Pulsetrain, to discuss the innovative technology of multi-level inverters and their potential impact on the electric vehicle industry. They explore the workings of multi-level inverters, the challenges faced in their adoption, the role of AI in extending battery life, and the importance of data in understanding battery performance. The conversation also touches on market entry strategies, weight reduction benefits, and fire safety improvements associated with this technology.
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
Spotlight on Recent Events
Last week, Dr. Simon Engelke moderated a panel at Automotive Masterminds (AMM25) in Berlin on the future of automotive batteries. He was joined by Silvia-Luna Yzaguirre Sánchez (PowerCo & Volkswagen AG), Célestine Singer (Factorial Energy), Sriram Claude Ramanoudjame (Blue Solutions), and Graeme Purdy (Ilika plc) to discuss advancements in battery designs, chemistries, mobility applications, scaling, and much more.
Following AMM25, Dr. Engelke attended Intersolar and ees Europe in Munich. He also spoke at the KOTRA München Battery Day Europe 2025, a side event of Intersolar/ees, where he shared insights on risks and opportunities in the battery sector, based on trends identified through Battery Associates and BatteryMBA.
Stay tuned as Battery Associates continues to drive collaboration and thought leadership across the global battery ecosystem. Reach out if you plan to be at the following events, we look forward to networking in person!
Future of the Car
13 - 15 May 2025
The global gathering for the automotive industry
In-Person & Digital | London
The 2025 FT Future of the Car Summit will convene the most influential players in the global automotive sector in London, for three days of news-making keynote interviews, lively sessions and unmissable networking opportunities. The programme will equip leaders and innovators in the automotive industry with the knowledge and networks necessary to steer their organisations towards a sustainable and technologically progressive future.
Hear from CEOs and C-suites from companies such as Polestar, Volkswagen, INEOS Automotive, Stellantis, Porsche, Bentley and many more.
Register now and receive 20% off your pass with BATTERY or download the official event brochure to discover the full agenda, networking opportunities and list of confirmed speakers.
The Battery Show Europe
3 - 5 June 2025
In-Person | Stuttgart
Get ready to meet 1,100+ industry leading suppliers at The Battery Show Europe, Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo Europe and Energy Storage Summit Germany, the largest European tradeshow and conference focused on the latest developments in the clean energy storage sector, covering the full supply chain from upstream to downstream featuring the latest ground breaking technologies in Europe’s advanced battery, H/EV technology and energy storage industry. Join 21,000+ fellow engineers, executives, thought leaders, professionals and decision-makers at the Messe Stuttgart, Germany on 3-5th June, 2025 for three electrifying days, filled with opportunities to source the latest technologies, develop your industry knowledge of key topics and network with like-minded peers. Register here and get an exclusive 20% discount on conference passes or a FREE expo pass using code BTS20!
Battery Associates services
Battery Associates offers consultancy, innovation, and education services on a wide range of topics. Please get in touch if you're interested in any of our services!
About Battery Associates
Battery Associates (B.A) is a community-driven company on a mission to accelerate sustainable battery innovation - join us!
B.A operates as a global network that unites battery experts (BatteryPRO), a platform for innovative projects (BatteryLAB), and a facilitator of training programmes for aspiring battery leaders (BatteryEDU). B.A's educational programmes notably includes BatteryMBA, a 12-week programme training aspiring battery leaders.
We are rapidly becoming a reference community for battery enthusiasts who want to tackle pressing environmental and energy-related challenges. Battery Associates currently unites battery experts working across the battery value supply chain, based in over 20 countries. We're growing, join us in our work!
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