Sodium-ion batteries expected to reach cost parity by 2026
Manufacturers have scaled sodium‑ion technology towards commercial deployment and have projected cell cost parity with LFP by late 2026. Supply‑chain expansions and material cost reductions have been reported to underpin broader energy‑storage adoption.
Dongfeng to mass-produce solid-state batteries in H2 2026
Dongfeng has scheduled mass production and vehicle integration of solid-state batteries for H2 2026, has reported an energy density of 350Wh/kg and has reported test results showing enhanced safety, 30% lighter packs and a potential driving range exceeding 1,000 km.
Xiaomi SU7 Ultra fire in Nanchang; battery data normal
A Xiaomi SU7 Ultra has caught fire on 7 June in Nanchang, and the company has said battery data have shown normal operation with no thermal runaway signals; authorities have been notified and investigations have continued.
US Adds Chinese Tech and EV Firms to Military List
The US Department of Defence has added multiple Chinese technology, electric-vehicle and battery companies to a Section 1260H list, and has signalled potential procurement and partner risks without imposing immediate sanctions.
CATL unveils interchangeable lithium-sodium battery platform
CATL has unveiled a 'One Shell, Two Cells' platform standardising lithium and sodium packs, and suppliers have reported 15,000-cycle sodium-ion durability and synthetic hard‑carbon scaling, supporting commercial deployment and extended energy-storage lifetimes.
Chinese EVs may enter United States via local manufacture
China has expanded its electric-vehicle exports and production capacity worldwide, and exports to North America have risen. US policymakers and automakers have imposed tariffs and regulatory constraints, while industry participants have explored US manufacturing and joint ventures as market-entry routes.
GAC Govy prioritises solid-state batteries for eVTOLs
GAC Govy has advanced eVTOL production and has set certification targets for 2026–27; its CEO has said solid‑state batteries have been essential for range, safety and commercial viability.
Scania to supply 91 electric buses to VR Sweden
Scania has agreed to supply 91 Fencer F1 battery electric buses to VR Sweden for Södertälje and Nykvarn services, which have been specified with 445 kWh batteries and 73-minute 5-95% charging times; the deal has included long-term service support.
CATL to deliver sodium-ion storage systems in September
CATL has scheduled delivery of its first sodium-ion battery energy storage systems for September and has projected GWh-level shipments in 2026, while suppliers have reported substantial material cost reductions and CATL has obtained national carbon certification.
Average passenger-car kerb weight in China rises 392 kg
China's average new-car kerb weight has risen 392 kg from 2012 to 2024 due to electrification, larger battery packs and demand for bigger models. Regulators have introduced energy-efficiency standards and tax thresholds, while battery advances have been announced.
CATL targets lithium‑air battery development
CATL has announced a strategic focus on lithium‑air batteries, has outlined a short‑mid‑long-term roadmap, and has cited laboratory progress toward over 1,200 Wh/kg and theoretical densities up to 12,000 Wh/kg that have been projected to extend EV ranges.
CATL to mass-produce sodium-ion batteries in 2026
CATL has announced plans to mass-produce sodium-ion batteries in 2026, has resolved manufacturing bottlenecks, has secured large supply contracts, has targeted a 600 km single-charge range and has integrated the chemistry across vehicles and storage.
Graphite One selects Conneaut site for anode facility
Graphite One has secured a Conneaut, Ohio site for a 10,000‑tonne-per-year active anode materials facility, has set Q4 2027 for start and Q3 2028 for Phase Two, and has delivered samples and entered binding offtake discussions.
Horizon Motor unveils Class 8 electric tractor
Horizon Motor has unveiled a Class 8 electric tractor with a two-seat half-sleeper cab, 350-mile range and dual-plug CCS1 charging; its first production unit has been allocated to a California fleet for real-world testing.
WEVO launches silicone seal for EV battery housings
WEVO has developed WEVOSIL 23130, a liquid silicone rubber for formed-in-place EV battery pack gaskets that has been designed to meet China's tightened GB 38031-2025 safety standard, offering chemical adhesion, fast curing and production-compatible handling.
PFAS-free hydrogel for lithium-ion battery fire training
Anogas has developed a PFAS-free hydrogel extinguishing agent and a realistic lithium-ion battery fire simulator, which have provided sustainable training solutions and reduced reliance on fluorinated foams while improving firefighter preparedness.
BYD launches Song Ultra DM-i with fifth-generation DM system
BYD has launched the Song Ultra DM-i; it has been equipped with a fifth-generation DM plug-in hybrid powertrain, has been offered with two battery options providing up to 310 km pure electric range, and has included advanced driver-assistance packages.
Potential BYD Shark 7 electric ute market impact
BYD has signalled no immediate Shark 7 plans, while analysts have projected a long‑range, fast‑charging electric ute with competitive pricing has had the potential to capture Australian market share amid persistently low EV ute penetration and rising BYD SUV sales.
CATL opens Xiamen energy storage validation institute
CATL has opened a 10-hectare energy storage validation institute in Xiamen, backed by about 3 billion yuan, providing station-level testing across five specialised laboratories to support global certification, grid-integration assessment and asset bankability.
Lithium-ion battery fires strain firefighting systems
Authorities and industry have reported increasing lithium-ion battery fires that have proven difficult to extinguish, have required large volumes of water, and have highlighted gaps in suppression technologies and environmental safeguards.
Scania launches under-cab battery module for trucks
Scania has begun global sales of an under‑cab battery module that has been designed to free bodywork space, and has been offered with a 400 kWh option to balance range and payload while complying with EU weight limits.
Nio launches ES9 SUV in China with BaaS option
Nio has launched the ES9 full-size SUV in China, priced at 498,000–628,000 yuan with a BaaS battery rental option reducing net price to 390,000–520,000 yuan; the model has been specified with 697 hp, 620 km range and steer-by-wire.
Tesla confirms dry cathode process may reduce cathode costs
Tesla has confirmed it has begun mass production of 4680 cells using a dry cathode process and has said the technique could significantly reduce battery cathode production costs, with a wider rollout expected across 2026–27.
SAIC launches MG 4X compact electric SUV in China
SAIC has launched the MG 4X, a compact electric SUV built on the Nebula architecture, and has priced it from 99,800 yuan, offering multiple battery, powertrain and ADAS configurations while targeting domestic and international sales growth.
VR orders 91 Scania battery-electric buses
VR has ordered 91 Scania Fencer f1 battery-electric buses and they have been scheduled to enter service from June 2027 in Södertälje; 32 4×2 and 59 6×2 units have been specified, all with 445 kWh batteries.
BYD patents composite sulphide solid-state electrolyte
BYD has filed a patent for a composite solid electrolyte membrane and has described a polymer-inorganic fibre network that has been designed to improve ionic conductivity and mechanical strength; the filing has not disclosed commercialisation timelines or performance metrics.
China's patent position in solid-state batteries
An industry analysis has found China has led global solid‑state battery patent filings but has warned that the United States, Europe, Japan and South Korea have accelerated policy support and patent deployment, risking erosion of China’s comparative advantage.
Fortescue fits out 240-tonne electric haul truck
Fortescue has fitted out a 240-tonne battery electric haul truck and has commenced commissioning of a 6 MW fast charger, and has outlined plans to deploy over 300 electric haul trucks and a renewable-powered green grid in the Pilbara.
Changan launches CS75 Plus and Eado BlueCore HEVs
Changan has launched the fourth-generation Eado and CS75 Plus BlueCore HEVs, has priced them from 79,900 yuan and 109,900 yuan respectively, and has adopted a shared 1.7 kWh battery with BlueCore hybrid control architecture.
Arcfox Beta S3 launched with CATL battery-swap support
BAIC's Arcfox has launched the Beta S3 in China, offering eight configurations with battery‑swap and charging options, and has secured over 30,000 orders since pre‑sales; BaaS monthly rentals have been priced from 399 to 599 yuan.
BYD leads China EV lawsuits by disclosed claim value
Chinese automaker BYD has led a publicly compiled tally with 6.9263 million yuan in disclosed claims against bloggers; other EV firms have also pursued legal action over alleged misinformation, defamation and reputational disputes.
Yuasa UXL GEN2 VRLA Battery for Extended Service Life
Yuasa has launched the UXL GEN2 VRLA battery for infrastructure DC power and has claimed improved lifecycle performance, thermal resilience and a temperature‑aligned warranty, with design lives of 20 years at 25°C and 10 years at 35°C.
Freudenberg introduces DIAvent maxFlow battery vent
Freudenberg has released the DIAvent maxFlow, a thermal‑runaway degassing valve for lithium‑ion vehicle batteries that has delivered over 190 litres per second at 300 mbar, has featured a 50–200 mbar adjustable trigger and has allowed non‑destructive testing.
Denza Z9 GT battery replacement priced at ¥78,700
A Denza Z9 GT owner has reported a replacement 122.5 kWh Blade Battery 2.0 has been quoted at ¥78,700 (about US$11,600), and BYD’s battery-cost advantages have been noted in industry data.
451.5 Wh/kg solid-state battery with three-minute charge
Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a solid-state lithium-metal battery achieving 451.5 Wh/kg and a three-minute charge, with 700-cycle stability (81.9% retention at 20C) and a pouch cell that has passed a nail-penetration safety test.
Xpeng GX Secures 24,863 Orders in 12 Hours
Xpeng has reported 24,863 firm orders for the GX within 12 hours of launch, offering eight variants priced from ¥279,800 (US$41,100) to ¥359,800 (US$52,900); the high‑end Ultra trim has represented over 80 per cent of orders.
Ganfeng: 500 Wh/kg solid-state cell enters production
Ganfeng has reported its 400 Wh/kg solid-state cell has exceeded 1,100 cycles and its 500 Wh/kg-class 10Ah lithium-metal cell has entered small-batch production as it develops silicon-carbon and lithium-metal routes.
Australia's Transition to Battery-Electric Ferries
Australian governments have announced initial electric ferry trials while domestic shipbuilders and international operators have already deployed battery-electric ferries, highlighting procurement and infrastructure decisions that have delayed fleet electrification and constrained emissions reductions.
BYD expands Blade Battery 2.0 output; Fang Cheng Bao 400,000+
BYD has accelerated production of Blade Battery 2.0 and dispatched staff to multiple plants to resolve supply bottlenecks, while Fang Cheng Bao has exceeded 400,000 cumulative sales and has begun phased deliveries of new flash‑charge models.
Xiaomi Auto launches Sky Nomad sub-brand for EREV SUVs
Xiaomi Auto has introduced Sky Nomad, an EREV SUV sub‑brand, and has secured Sunwoda (60%) and CALB (40%) as battery suppliers for a full‑size flagship, with market entry scheduled for the second half of 2026.
BYD defends Blade Battery and sub-10-minute flash charging
BYD has defended its second-generation Blade Battery and Flash Charge technology, has claimed sub-10-minute charging from 10–97%, has reported 5,924 flash stations, and has emphasised testing and thermal design to address rapid-charge safety concerns.
Dash Cam Hardware and Connectivity for Construction Fleets
The guide has described equipment-rated dash cam specifications, mounting and power strategies, and cellular/WiFi connectivity models for construction fleets, and has highlighted testing, storage and deployment considerations to support reliable video capture in harsh, intermittent-connectivity environments.
Proterra adds US-sourced cells to Onyx platform
Proterra has announced a US-sourced cell option for its Onyx heavy-duty battery platform, with shipments scheduled to begin in Q1 2027; the company has said broader sourcing changes will increase US content in the platform by over 600%.
Hyundai recalls 2019–2023 Kona Electric models
Hyundai has issued an urgent safety recall for 2019–2023 Kona Electric models after a Battery Management System software fault has been identified that may cause electrical short circuits and fire; most vehicles have required a software update.
China battery fair shows manufacturing shift
CIBF 2026 has signalled a shift from EV cell promotion to manufacturing scale-up, with equipment makers and electrolyte suppliers having commercialised production tools, pilot lines and compliance-ready systems while ESS standardisation has advanced.
Gotion launches Gnascent sodium-ion battery range
Gotion High-Tech has launched the Gnascent sodium-ion battery brand, has established gigawatt-scale production in Tangshan and Hefei, and has introduced three variants targeting high-energy electric vehicles, low-temperature power and long-duration storage.