October Newsletter 2025
- Feb 25
- 6 min read
Dear battery enthusiast,
Welcome to Battery Associates’ October 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 Associates’ Events & Updates
Battery Industry Highlights
In this section, we summarise relevant battery news from the past month.
On September 24, 2025, Cylib, a German battery recycler, announced it had secured a €26.1 million EU grant from the ERDF/JTF program in North Rhine-Westphalia to build a large-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility at CHEMPARK Dormagen. The project will deploy Cylib’s proprietary OLiC (Optimised Lithium & Graphite Recovery) process to recover over 90% of key materials, including lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, and manganese and reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% compared with primary extraction. The plant aims to process up to 60,000 tonnes of end-of-life batteries annually by 2027.
B.A Commentary: Under the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, recyclers must recover ≥50% of lithium by 2027 and ≥80% by 2031, with Cylib well-positioned to meet these targets ahead of schedule. The NRW ERDF/JTF funding accelerates scalable investment, supports the European Green Deal, and fosters a resource-efficient, low-carbon circular economy in North Rhine-Westphalia, enhancing the region's competitive advantage and reducing its dependence on imported raw materials.
On September 8, 2025, Alstom was awarded a €538 million contract by the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council under the Lower North Island Integrated Mobility Project to supply 18 five-car Adessia Stream B battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) and provide 35 years of FlexCare Perform maintenance services. The trains, to be manufactured at Alstom’s Gujarat facility in India, will replace diesel services on the Wairarapa and Manawatu lines. They are described as Tuhuno, New Zealand’s greenest trains, and the first battery-electric trains in the Southern Hemisphere, with a new maintenance facility planned in Masterton.
B.A Commentary: Manufacturing the BEMUs at Alstom's Gujarat, India facility provides cost-efficient production and strengthens Alstom’s regional manufacturing capabilities. Replacing diesel trains with battery-electric units directly supports Greater Wellington’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030. Overall, the project strengthens Alstom’s role in advancing sustainable rail and long-term infrastructure solutions in the Southern Hemisphere.
On September 7, 2025, CATL announced its new plant in Debrecen, Hungary, backed by a €7.34 billion investment, which is expected to begin production by early 2026. The facility is set to reach an annual capacity of 100 GWh and employ approximately 9,000 workers, serving major European automakers, including BMW AG, Stellantis NV, and Volkswagen AG.
B.A Commentary: Initiated in 2022, CATL’s Hungarian project received an additional $4.6 billion in funding in May 2025 through its Hong Kong stock listing to support phased construction. The plant is expected to strengthen supply-chain resilience, reduce logistics and currency risks, and support collaborations with European automakers. |
On 1 September 2025, Ashok Leyland Limited announced a partnership with CALB Group to develop and manufacture next-generation batteries for automotive and energy-storage applications in India. The company plans to invest over ₹5,000 crore (approximately $565 million) over the next 7–10 years to establish a domestic battery ecosystem, encompassing R&D, manufacturing, and recycling
B.A Commentary: This investment elevates Ashok Leyland, extending its value beyond vehicle manufacturing. By localising battery production, the company gains cost and supply chain advantages in a rapidly expanding domestic EV market. Its partnership with CALB secures access to advanced battery technologies. The move positions Ashok Leyland in line with India’s policy priorities, such as MoEF&CC’s potential restrictions on black mass exports, strengthening domestic battery manufacturing and supporting net-zero targets. |
On 3 September 2025, LG Energy Solution signed two long-term battery supply contracts with Mercedes-Benz and its U.S. manufacturing arm to deliver a combined 107 GWh of cylindrical 46-series battery cells. Specifically, 32 GWh will be delivered to Europe from 2028 to 2035, and 75 GWh will be delivered to the U.S. from 2029 to 2037. According to industry estimates, the contracts are valued at approximately US $11 billion (≈15 trillion won).
B.A Commentary: The Mercedes-Benz contracts highlight how automakers are securing long-term battery capacity as competition for reliable supply intensifies. For LG Energy Solution, the agreements provide visibility into production in the U.S. and Europe. The move also shows that carmakers favour established suppliers even as they localise manufacturing to meet regional policy targets. |
Company Member News |
Thermo Fisher Scientific X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) reveals elemental composition, chemical states, and bonding environments and in battery applications is invaluable for tracking electrode chemistry, studying surface degradation and monitoring electrolyte breakdown. Our new eBook, “Uncovering Surface Insights with X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy” shares workflows for analysing battery materials, and showcases applications where XPS is helping accelerate battery innovation. Download it here. |
Industries Excellence
Siemens Battery Tech Talk: Next-Gen Battery Manufacturing: The IndX and Siemens Battery Tech Talk series highlights how digital MES, simulation and AI tools cut scrap and close the capacity gap for smarter battery gigafactories.
Ingun
Introducing the New BCP 65x and 69x Series – Optimised for Battery Formation Applications
We are excited to unveil our latest innovation in battery formation technology: the BCP 65x and 69x series, designed to meet the demanding needs of mid- to high-current applications, ranging from 50A to 300A.
Don’t miss the chance to connect with our team at the upcoming trade fairs in Europe, Asia and North America and learn more about our innovative solutions.
Join BatteryMBA
BatteryMBA’s latest cohort began on September 8, 2025, and the next cohort is scheduled to start on January 12, 2026, with registration closing on December 29, 2025.
The BatteryMBA offers a combination of in-depth technical and business knowledge on a range of battery topics aligned with the sector's dynamic growth. Find the latest lecturer line-up here.
The 700+ BatteryMBA alumni come from 60+ countries, from across the value chain and from various areas of expertise and seniority. They 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 numerous other organisations.
The course includes a battery-focused case study track, over 30 short presentations from peers, a mentorship programme, networking and career skills sessions, and a roundtable session. Need-based partial scholarships and group discounts are also available. If you have any queries, reach out to us via email at info@battery.mba.
Welcoming the Sep-Nov 2025 BatteryMBA cohort |
Battery Associates’ Events & Updates |
Future Battery Forum — Berlin25–26 November, 2025ECC Berlin | Germany Join the Future Battery Forum in Berlin from 25 to 26 November 2025 at ECC Berlin. This leading European conference unites key stakeholders from across the entire battery value chain — including cell manufacturers, OEMs, energy providers, policymakers, and technology innovators. Expect over 1,000 participants, 80+ international speakers, and 100+ exhibitors and partners. The program features strategic discussions and case studies on gigafactory expansion, next-generation battery technologies, sustainability, recycling, and EU regulatory developments such as the Battery Passport. It’s an essential meeting point to network, exchange insights, and explore the innovations shaping Europe’s battery future. Register here: https://www.futurebattery.eu/  |
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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