June Newsletter 2025
- Battery Associates
- Jul 28
- 8 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ June 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: Join the BatteryMBA Round Table!s
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On 3 June, BASF commenced operations at its plant in Schwarzheide, Germany, one of Europe's largest black mass recycling facilities. With a 15,000-ton annual capacity, it can process approximately 40,000 EV batteries yearly. The facility recovers lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese from end-of-life batteries and production scrap, aligning with EU circular economy goals and enhancing raw material self-sufficiency.
B.A Commentary: BASF's investment underscores the EU's push for a closed-loop battery value chain. By reclaiming critical metals domestically, the facility reduces reliance on imported raw materials and mitigates supply chain risks. This move positions BASF as a key player in sustainable battery materials, catering to the growing demand for electric vehicles and adhering to stringent environmental regulations.
On 3 June, Cylib and Pure Battery Technologies signed an MoU to enhance Europe's battery recycling value chain. Under the agreement, Cylib will supply PBT with black mass concentrate (BMC) containing nickel, cobalt, and manganese. PBT will process this using its low-emission hydrometallurgical technology to produce precursor cathode active material (pCAM). This collaboration aims to meet EU regulations that require 70% lithium and 95% recovery of cobalt, nickel, and copper by 2030.
B.A Commentary: This partnership exemplifies strategic vertical integration in Europe's battery sector. Cylib's efficient recovery processes, combined with PBT's high-purity refining capabilities, address critical material shortages and regulatory mandates. By localising the supply chain, the collaboration reduces reliance on external sources, aligns with EU sustainability goals, and strengthens the continent's position in the global battery market.
On 12 June, German BESS provider Voltfang raised €15 million in Series B funding to scale production and deliver 250 MWh of additional storage capacity across Europe by 2026. The investment supports the launch of the “Voltfang Future Fab” in Aachen, capable of scaling up to 1 GWh annually. Voltfang repurposes EV batteries from the European automotive sector and integrates AI-driven energy management via its Venma platform.
B.A Commentary: Voltfang’s expansion reinforces Europe's shift toward circular battery ecosystems. By utilising second-life EV batteries and AI-based energy optimisation, the company addresses both sustainability and grid resilience. |
On 4 June, Lucid Group and Graphite One signed a multi-year agreement for US-sourced natural graphite. Starting in 2028, Graphite One will supply anode materials from its Graphite Creek deposit in Alaska, as well as from a planned facility in Warren, Ohio. This builds upon their 2024 synthetic graphite deal, positioning Graphite One as the sole U.S. provider of both graphite types to an EV manufacturer.
B.A Commentary: This partnership underscores a strategic shift towards domesticizing critical mineral supply chains. By sourcing both natural and synthetic graphite within the U.S., Lucid mitigates geopolitical risks and aligns with national efforts to reduce dependency on foreign materials. |
On 2 June, Ecobat finalised the sale of its European battery distribution business to UK-based private equity firm Endless LLP. The divested unit supplied batteries for automotive, commercial, marine, leisure, and industrial applications under brands like Lucas, Exide, Varta, and Rolls. This move aligns with Ecobat's strategy to focus on its core battery recycling operations and divest non-core assets.
B.A Commentary: Ecobat's divestiture reflects a strategic pivot toward strengthening its position in sustainable battery recycling amid growing demand for electric vehicles. By shedding its distribution segment, Ecobat can allocate more resources to recycling technologies, aligning with EU directives on circular economy practices. |
Company Member News |
Thermo Fisher Scientific Improving lithium-ion batteries starts with understanding the relationship between their structure and performance. Our new eBook details how analytical characterisation using electron microscopy (EM) techniques complemented by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) helps to identify and quantify the chemical state and stability of electrochemical interferences within a battery system, ensuring that it meets the required standards and specifications. Download it now! |
Industries Excellence
On-Demand Webinar: Eng IndX & Siemens - Your Roadmap to EU Battery Passport ComplianceThe EU Battery Passport Regulation is set to transform battery manufacturing, supply chains and sustainability practices. To stay compliant, companies must manage and report vast amounts of data across the battery value chain. This webinar will explore the biggest hurdles companies face—from data fragmentation to evolving reporting standards—and provide a roadmap for readiness. Together, Eng IndX and Siemens showcase how digital solutions and system integration can help navigate common challenges, accelerate compliance and unlock long-term business value. Gain actionable insights, see real-world examples and uncover a live software demonstration that will set you on the path to compliance and beyond!
Watch the on-demand webinar here.
BA Exclusive Summary
LMFP vs. LFP – Evolving Cost and Performance Landscape (2022–2025)
Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) batteries were initially hailed as an attractive upgrade to LFP cells, offering superior energy density while maintaining lower lithium content. In 2022, LMFP held a clear cost advantage, being approximately 11–12% cheaper than LFP. This edge was largely attributed to its lower lithium content, which was especially beneficial during a period when lithium carbonate prices surged past $70,000 per ton.
However, the economic landscape shifted dramatically by 2024 when lithium prices crashed to $21/kg. As a result, LFP—previously disadvantaged due to its high lithium intensity—experienced a significant cost reduction. In contrast, LMFP’s other input materials, such as manganese, and the complex synthesis steps remained costly. This shift eliminated LMFP’s earlier advantage. By 2025, LFP emerged as the more cost-competitive option, with LMFP becoming 10–15% more expensive per kilogram. The cost gap that had been $13/kWh in LMFP’s favour in 2022 narrowed to just $5/kWh by 2023 and reversed entirely by 2025
Despite losing its cost edge, LMFP continues to offer higher energy density than LFP, which remains one of its primary advantages. This makes it suitable for mid-range EVs that require more power in a compact format. However, LMFP’s cycle life, averaging around 2,000 cycles, is comparable to that of NMC batteries but falls short of LFP’s more robust 2,000–6,000 cycle range. This limitation, coupled with its synthesis complexity and rising relative cost, makes LMFP less suitable for ultra cost-sensitive or high-durability applications.
Company Member News
Industries Excellence
Siemens & IndX: Battery Impact Day - Engineering Industries eXcellence | June 26th 2025
Join IndX for a dynamic, hands-on event that brings together industry professionals, digital experts and innovators to explore the latest in battery supply chain transparency, digital transformation and regulatory readiness. The day will begin with an immersive Impact Tour showcasing the transformation from the physical to the digital world, followed by targeted sessions on the Battery Digital Thread, the Battery Passport and the use of AI in battery manufacturing. In the afternoon, participants will dive into interactive groups to tackle real-world challenges. Limited seats, register today.
Register for the BatteryMBA May 2025 Cohort
BatteryMBA’s next cohort started 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 |
Register for the BatteryMBA May 2025 Cohort
BatteryMBA’s next cohort started 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.
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 registerhere.
Looking for Sponsors!
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 Clara today to enquire about sponsorship packages at clara.leepaget@battery.associates.
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates
Upcoming Battery Associates Events: Join the Round Table on 21st July’25!
We’re excited to welcome leading industry experts Inga Petersen, Andreas Flesch and Nemanja Mikać for discussions on battery manufacturing challenges, upstream & downstream opportunities, the future of energy & sustainability, and regulations & materials innovation.
Share your take on our poll here. Register for the event for free and participate in the live conversation: https://lnkd.in/ehRArBtx
Spotlight on Recent Events: Advanced Automotive Battery Conference Europe
At AABC in Mainz, Germany, Dr. Simon Engelke, Founder & Chair of Battery Associates, delivered a compelling talk on the evolving risk landscape within the battery industry and had the opportunity to connect with members of the global battery industry community.
His session on “Navigating Battery Industry Risks” tackled:
Supply chain constraints & cell sourcing strategies
The financial maze of battery warranties
The societal impact of battery fires and grid reliability
And the big question: How can the industry scale sustainably
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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