Vehicle battery cells, packs, chemistry, manufacturing, recycling or performance; exclude BMS-only stories.
BYD launches 501 km Yuan UP electric crossover in China
BYD has launched the 2027 Yuan UP Feichi Edition in China, adding a 501 km CLTC variant with a 51.13 kWh Blade Battery. Prices start at 74,800 yuan, while the compact electric crossover retains 301 km and 401 km versions.
Li Auto launches i9 electric SUV in China with 0.215 drag coefficient
Li Auto has launched the i9 flagship electric SUV in China, priced at 369,800 yuan. It offers a 705km CLTC range, 5C rapid charging and an optional LiDAR-equipped driver-assistance package, with initial vehicles using CATL batteries before a planned switch to Li Auto-developed packs.
Denza Z9S electric sedan set for launch with 1,100km range
Denza will launch the Z9S on 23 September 2026 after opening pre-sales. The electric sedan offers up to 1,100km of CLTC range from BYD Blade batteries, plus roof-mounted lidar, advanced driving functions and rear-wheel steering.
BYD unveils 600km electric heavy truck with 1.5MW charging
BYD has unveiled the ETT 44, a 20-tonne battery-electric tractor with a 44-tonne gross combination weight, 600km range and 651kWh Blade battery. Its 1.5MW charging system can raise charge from 20% to 80% in about 20 minutes.
Lithium-ion battery fires expose growing risks for waste facilities
Lithium-ion batteries discarded in general waste are causing fires at recycling and transfer facilities. The article highlights 2026 UK guidance on detection, segregation and storage, alongside US evidence of fires across the battery supply chain.
Scania adds batteries to extend electric long-haul truck range to 720 km
Scania has announced a battery-electric long-haul truck solution adding two MP20 packs behind the cab, increasing capacity by about 365 kWh. Combined with an aerodynamic front and megawatt charging, the configuration can deliver up to 720 km of range.
CATL launches Tectrans II commercial-vehicle battery platform
CATL has launched its Tectrans II modular battery platform for trucks and buses at IAA Transportation in Hannover. It supports megawatt charging, an 80% charge in 25 minutes and ranges of up to 1,000km; CATL also signed a DHL MoU on European green freight corridors.
Denza launches N8L electric SUV with 130 kWh battery and nine-minute charging
BYD’s Denza has launched the N8L pure-electric SUV with a 130.15 kWh Blade Battery, 960 km CLTC range and 800V charging from 10% to 97% in about nine minutes. It also features roof-mounted lidar and the company’s God’s Eye driving-assistance system.
Denza Z9GT spotted testing in Australia ahead of market launch
BYD’s Denza Z9GT has been spotted undergoing road testing in Melbourne ahead of its Australian launch. The electric shooting brake features LFP Blade Battery 2.0 packs, up to 1,036km of CLTC range and five-minute 10–70% charging, with the tri-motor version due first.
BYD plans solid-state battery vehicle demonstration next year
BYD executive Stella Li says the company plans to put its solid-state battery technology into a vehicle next year. The demonstration will test sulfide-cell integration, while pilot production and mass-market manufacturing remain further down the roadmap.
Lynk & Co 900 fire cause remains unconfirmed after dealership’s power-bank claim
A Lynk & Co 900 caught fire beneath the vehicle in Hangzhou, China. The dealership said a dropped power bank may have ignited the blaze and denied a high-voltage battery fire, but a municipal investigation has yet to establish the cause.
GM plans US sodium-ion battery production with Peak Energy
General Motors is developing sodium-ion battery cells with Peak Energy for energy storage, targeting commercial production around 2029. It is also investing $900m in US battery laboratories and aims to build domestic cell supply for future electric vehicles.
Geely Galaxy TT launches with 800V platform and lidar-assisted driving
Geely has launched the electric Galaxy TT with an 800V, 6C fast-charging platform, CATL LFP battery and up to 425kW of power. Its H5 and H7 driver-assistance systems combine cameras, radar and lidar for urban and highway navigation and automated parking.
Study finds used EV batteries retain more capacity than expected
Analysis of 500,000 EV battery-health tests found vehicles with 150,000 km typically retained 87–94% of original capacity. Results also showed substantial variation between individual cars, highlighting the value of independent battery testing for used-EV buyers and valuations.
Audi launches efficient A2 e-tron and cuts Q6 e-tron prices
Audi has unveiled the battery-electric A2 e-tron with four variants, LFP and NMC batteries, up to 646km of WLTP range and optional bidirectional charging. It has also cut Q6 e-tron prices by up to $22,800, with A2 deliveries starting in Germany in December.
BYD to develop Blade batteries for industrial rail locomotives in China
BYD’s FinDreams Battery has partnered with Changsha Fusheng Technology to develop automotive-grade Blade Battery systems for industrial and mining rail locomotives. FinDreams will support battery R&D and manufacturing, while Changsha Fusheng handles integration and application development.
Mercedes-Benz launches electric GLC with up to 350 miles of range
Mercedes-Benz has launched the electric GLC 400 4MATIC, featuring a 94-kWh battery, 800-volt architecture, 330-kW charging and up to 350 miles of EPA range. The vehicle introduces the company’s MB.OS software platform and AI-enabled MBUX system.
Li Auto to unveil flagship i9 electric SUV on 16 September
Li Auto will unveil its six-seat i9 electric SUV on 16 September. The dual-motor model has a 120kWh battery and an expected range above 800km, with initial versions using CATL cells before Sunwoda and CALB-supplied batteries are introduced.
GWM files six-seat long-wheelbase Tank 700 in China
A Chinese regulatory filing reveals GWM’s 5.445-metre Tank 700 Long-Wheelbase Edition with six seats, a 59.05kWh plug-in-hybrid battery option and a 3.0-litre V6. The SUV is rated to tow 2,500kg, but pricing and a release date have not been announced.
Zeekr 7X LFP variant homologated with 370 kW motor in China
China’s MIIT has homologated a new LFP-powered Zeekr 7X variant with a 370 kW rear motor. The 85 kWh version is scheduled for Q4 2026, although its official capacity, range, charging performance and pricing remain unconfirmed.
Dongfeng files battery-swapping eπ EP7 sedan in China
Dongfeng’s eπ brand has filed a battery-swapping version of its EP7 electric sedan with China’s MIIT. The model uses a CATL lithium iron phosphate battery and follows wider expansion of CATL’s passenger-vehicle swapping ecosystem.
US battery funding faces China's supply-chain lead
The US has awarded $500 million to seven battery-minerals, materials, manufacturing and recycling companies, but analysts say far greater investment is needed to challenge China's dominance of refining, battery materials and cell production.
Camouflaged Smart #2 electric two-seater spotted in China
Smart’s forthcoming #2 electric two-seater has been spotted testing in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen ahead of its October Paris debut. MIIT filings list a 35.7kWh LFP battery, 300km WLTP range, 60kW motor and 10–80% DC charging in 20 minutes.
Li Auto to roll out proprietary batteries across its vehicle range
Li Auto will fit its proprietary 5C ternary batteries across its range as CATL reserves run low. The company is also investing ¥2.65bn in Sunwoda EVB, taking an indirect 11.17% stake and strengthening its in-house battery supply strategy.
Xiaomi launches Skynomad N90 Max extended-range electric SUV
Xiaomi has launched the seven-seat Skynomad N90 Max and Explorer Edition, an extended-range electric SUV with a 76kWh battery, 464km electric range and 1,705km combined range. Its driver-assistance suite uses lidar, radar, cameras and Nvidia’s Thor processor.
Updated Geely Panda Mini EV launches in China with CATL battery
Geely has launched the Panda Mini Karting Edition in China with a 17.2kWh CATL LFP battery, 210km CLTC range and 22kW DC charging. The updated electric city car is priced at 49,900 yuan, or 43,900 yuan with a limited-time discount.
GM and Ford pursue defence vehicles and energy-storage growth
GM and Ford are expanding into military vehicles and energy storage to diversify beyond slowing vehicle sales and repurpose underused EV-battery capacity. GM has secured US defence contracts, while Ford plans a $2bn energy business and a UK defence partnership.
CATL warns rapid Chinese EV launches are driving battery quality risks
CATL chairman Robin Zeng said compressed development schedules and price pressure in China had contributed to batch-level battery failures. He outlined a one-defect-per-billion-cell target and adversarial testing, while stressing that the cited failures were not attributed to specific suppliers or models.
China begins phasing out electric-vehicle tax exemptions
China will introduce a 2% consumption tax on lithium batteries from September 2026, rising to 4% in 2027. The changes form part of a wider withdrawal of preferential treatment for new-energy vehicles, while sodium-ion and solid-state batteries remain exempt until at least 2028.
Chery plans 2027 real-world tests for solid-state batteries
Chery will begin vehicle verification of solid-state batteries in 2027, following development of cells reaching 400 Wh/kg. The automaker plans to invest 10 billion yuan in the technology and will start installing semi-solid battery packs in vehicles in late 2026.
Zeekr 7X to gain 85kWh LFP battery in China
Zeekr will introduce an 85kWh Aegis Golden Brick LFP battery for the 2027-model-year 7X electric SUV in China during Q4 2026. The pack is expected to replace the entry-level 75kWh unit, although range and charging specifications have not yet been disclosed.
China-led solid-state EV battery standard process advances as pilot lines scale
The IEC has approved a China-led proposal to develop an international solid-state EV battery standard. New Chinese tax rules, pilot-line activity and prototype testing show technical progress, but commercial-scale production remains several years away.
Range Rover unveils first fully electric model in Australia
Range Rover has opened orders in Australia for its first fully electric model, priced from A$317,718. The SUV uses dual 260kW motors, an 800V 118.5kWh battery and offers up to 600km of NEDC range, with its battery and motors developed at JLR’s UK manufacturing centre.
BYD launches Sealion 08 in China with second-generation Blade Battery
BYD has launched the Sealion 08 SUV in China with plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions. Both use second-generation Blade Batteries, offering up to 1,650km combined range for the PHEV and up to 900km CLTC range for the BEV.
Safety violations delay CATL battery-cell production in Hungary
Hungarian regulators have suspended CATL’s planned battery-cell production in Debrecen over nickel-exposure risks and other safety failures. Environmental-permit breaches and tighter oversight of major investments are adding to delays, while the company sources batteries elsewhere to supply Mercedes-Benz.
Hyundai develops faster-charging cells ahead of EREV and EV launches
Hyundai says its new battery cells deliver more than twice the output of its previous high-nickel cells and cut charging times by 40%. The cells will debut in a 2027 Santa Fe EREV, while Hyundai plans new EVs, expanded production and higher electrified-vehicle sales.
BYD reveals five-seat Sealion 08 interior ahead of 2 September launch
BYD has revealed the five-seat interior of its Sealion 08 ahead of its 2 September launch. The BEV and PHEV SUV will offer multiple powertrains, Blade Battery options, Flash Charging, LiDAR-supported God’s Eye 5.0 ADAS and rear-wheel steering.
BYD reports H1 decline as Blade Battery capacity constrains sales
BYD reported a 7.1% revenue decline and 20.5% fall in H1 2026 net profit, while vehicle exports rose 67.8%. Chairman Wang Chuanfu blamed weaker sales partly on constrained second-generation Blade Battery production, which remains in ramp-up.
Volkswagen opens China presales for ID. Aura T6 electric crossover
FAW–Volkswagen has opened presales in China for the ID. Aura T6 electric crossover, priced from 135,900 yuan. The model uses Xpeng-co-developed CEA architecture, LFP batteries and a LiDAR-based assisted-driving system supporting highway and urban navigation assistance.
Chinese team develops lithium-metal pouch cells exceeding 600 Wh/kg
Tianmushan Lab and Tsinghua University have developed lithium-metal pouch cells achieving up to 602.5 Wh/kg in laboratory tests. The electrolyte design improved high-voltage stability and dendrite suppression, although further development is needed before commercial production.
Research finds EV fires behave similarly to petrol and diesel vehicle fires
UL Research Institutes’ three-year study found EV and internal-combustion vehicle fires had similar growth, peak size and duration. Water controlled cabin fires, but could not stop battery thermal runaway, while fire blankets posed explosion risks in confined spaces.
Chery launches electric Fulwin T7 SUV in China from $14,300
Chery has launched the pure-electric Fulwin T7 compact SUV in China, priced from 97,900 yuan. It offers a 65.05kWh LFP battery, 600km CLTC range, 20-minute fast charging and Falcon 500 assisted-driving features including automated parking and highway navigation.
Yangwang U7 battery retains 98.7% capacity after 30,000 km test
BYD’s Yangwang U7 completed a 30,000 km endurance test in China, including more than 350 rapid-charge cycles over nine days. The production electric sedan retained 98.7% of its battery capacity despite sustained high-speed driving in hot, humid conditions.
Aiva expected to adopt CATL battery swapping for first model
China’s Aiva is discussing CATL’s battery-swapping system for its first mass-produced model, the ME7, due to debut by the end of 2026. The Seres-backed brand plans to use CATL’s existing swap network as it targets China and export markets.