July Newsletter 2025
- Battery Associates
- Sep 4
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 5
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ July 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
Company Member News
Battery Day 2025
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On 14 July, Ultium Cells, the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, announced a USD $2.3 billion investment to convert its existing NCMA cell production facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee, into an LFP cell production plant. Commercial production of LFP cells is expected to begin by late 2027. Ultium Cells stated that it will continue operating its existing NCMA cell production line at its Warren, Ohio, facility. |
B.A Commentary: US OEMs are increasingly adopting LFP battery chemistry to lower costs and stay competitive. Companies like Ford and Tesla, which previously focused on NMC and NCA chemistries, have started adopting LFP due to its improved energy density and cost advantages. This shift reflects a broader trend toward balancing both performance with cost affordability in the US EV and ESS market. GM plans to use LFP batteries in two upcoming models, the Chevrolet Silverado EV and the next-gen Bolt EUV.
On 4 July, the European Commission announced that six pioneering EV battery cell manufacturing projects will receive €852 million in grants from the Innovation Fund (financed by the EU Emissions Trading System). These projects span France, Germany, Sweden and Poland, and are expected to begin operations before 2030, delivering a combined annual manufacturing capacity of ~56 GWh and reducing GHG emissions by ~91 Mt CO₂e over the first 10 years of operation.
B.A Commentary: The Innovation Fund 2024 Battery Call received 14 proposals from 8 countries, with 13 deemed eligible and 6 projects selected based on innovation, GHG reduction, and supply security. Funded by EU ETS revenues, the initiative supports low-carbon tech and climate neutrality. Since 2021, the Fund has committed €12 billion to over 200 projects. The Battery Call is part of a wider, €3 billion effort to fortify Europe's battery value chain and overcome sectoral barriers.
On 30 July, LG Energy Solution (LGES) secured a USD $4.31 billion agreement to supply lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries globally over three years, starting in August 2027, to an American OEM. The contract, disclosed through regulatory filings, does not name the buyer, but industry sources suggest it could be Tesla. Most of these LFP cells are expected to be used in the company’s energy storage system (ESS) solutions, particularly for the U.S. market. Production is planned at LGES’s U.S. factory in Michigan, which began LFP output in May 2025. The deal also includes options for increased volumes and contract extensions.
B.A Commentary: In 2024, Tesla was exploring a partnership with CATL for a technology licensing agreement to produce LFP cells locally in the U.S. However, due to security clearance concerns from the Biden administration and ongoing tariffs from the Trump era trade policies, the plan was not successfully implemented. To circumvent these bottlenecks, Tesla is now diversifying its LFP cell production. As a result, Tesla has ordered a large volume of LFP cells from LGES. Notably, LGES is currently the only cell manufacturer producing LFP cells at scale in the U.S.
On 23 July, QuantumScape Corporation expanded its licensing and collaboration agreement with PowerCo SE, Volkswagen Group’s battery arm, initially signed in July 2024. Under the updated deal, PowerCo will provide up to $131 million over two years, contingent on achieving development milestones on top of the previously committed $130 million. The move enables an additional 5 GWh/year of QSE‑5 solid‑state cells production, including for non‑VW customers.
B.A Commentary: On June 11, 2024, PowerCo, the battery manufacturing arm of the Volkswagen Group, entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with QuantumScape. Under the agreement, PowerCo can manufacture up to 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year using QuantumScape’s technology, with the option to expand production to 80 GWh, enough to power approximately one million vehicles annually. Through additional financing, PowerCo has exercised its extendable option in the previous contract, adding 5 GWh of capacity to its original 40 GWh. A key difference is that this additional capacity can be sold outside the Volkswagen Group. PowerCo has also secured the right to license certain future QuantumScape technologies.
On 16 July 2025, General Motors and Redwood Energy signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to accelerate the deployment of energy‑storage systems using both new U.S.-manufactured batteries from GM and second‑life battery packs from GM electric vehicles.
B.A Commentary: In June 2025, Redwood Materials—a U.S.-based battery materials and end-of-life management company—announced the launch of Redwood Energy, an energy storage (ESS) subsidiary focused on building domestic ESS solutions using batteries made in the U.S., combined with second-life batteries recovered from the U.S. market. According to Redwood Energy, this is not a niche opportunity, and it represents a growing, scalable energy resource. More than 100,000 EVs are expected to come off U.S. roads this year alone. Currently, over 5 million EVs are in operation across the country, representing an estimated 350 GWh of energy that will reach end-of-life in the coming years. With an additional 150 GWh entering the operational fleet annually, this total is increasing rapidly and could supply 50% or more of the entire energy storage market.
Company Member News |
Industries eXcellence
The latest article from Industries eXcellence, “The IndX Digital Ecosystem for Battery Manufacturers in the U.S” explores how IndX and Siemens are pioneering smart solutions, such as AI, digital twins, and MES platforms, to help manufacturers modernise, ramp up production, and outpace global rivals.
Read the full article here.
Register for the BatteryMBA September 2025 Cohort
BatteryMBA’s next cohort starts on 8th September 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.
Welcome session for the latest May-July 2025 BatteryMBA cohort |
Battery Day 2025
We are delighted to announce that the sixth edition of Battery Day will take place on 25th September 2025! Join us for our annual battery event, featuring leaders across battery industries and showcasing panels and deep-dives on pressing battery developments.
The event is free and open to all battery enthusiasts and battery professionals. Don't miss your chance to join the conversation and register here.
Opportunities to Sponsor BatteryDay 25
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
Join already confirmed sponsors such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Engineering Industries eXcellence, Bruker, Spherity, and Rockwell Automation.
Please get in touch with Carol today to enquire about sponsorship packages at carol.prince@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.
In this episode of the Battery Insiders podcast, Dr. Simon Engelke speaks with Mr Vikram Handa, Founder and Managing Director of Epsilon Advanced Materials, about the critical role of synthetic graphite in battery supply chains. They discuss the innovative production processes, the differences between synthetic and natural graphite, and the cost dynamics affecting the industry. Vikram Handa shares insights on localisation strategies, current projects in the US and Finland, and the importance of partnerships for validation in battery materials. The conversation also touches on ESG considerations and the recent acquisition of LFP technology, highlighting the future direction of Epsilon in the battery materials landscape.
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
The Battery Show North America
October 6–9, 2025
Huntington Place | Detroit, Michigan
Join 21,000+ engineers, executives, and decision-makers at The Battery Show North America and Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo—the largest advanced battery and EV event in North America. This is your opportunity to connect with 1,300+ leading suppliers, discover solutions to the latest industry challenges, and gain insights into evolving policies shaping the EV landscape. The four-day conference delivers expert-led sessions on cutting-edge technologies, market shifts, and strategies to stay ahead, while the expansive expo floor helps you source innovations across the full supply chain—from raw materials to end-product integration. Don’t miss your chance to network with peers, explore groundbreaking solutions, and position your business for success.
Register now for an exclusive 20% off a conference pass or a FREE expo pass with code BTS20. Find the link here.
Advanced Design & Manufacturing (ADM) Expo Toronto
21-23 October, 2025
Toronto Congress Centre | Ontario, Canada
Join the Advanced Design & Manufacturing (ADM) Expo Toronto, Canada's premier event for electric vehicle and advanced battery innovation! Taking place October 21-23, 2025 at the Toronto Congress Centre, ADM Toronto connects industry leaders across automotive, energy, aerospace, and more, featuring 350+ exhibitors, 70+ speakers, and hands-on workshops. Don’t miss your chance to network, learn, and experience the future of electrification and sustainable manufacturing—register now to be part of Canada’s transformative EV ecosystem!
Register here: https://www.admtoronto.com/
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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