Check out news from the battery industry from February 2026. We’ve compiled the biggest stories from February related to lithium ion batteries, battery manufacturing, recycling, safety and more!

“There’s been an increase of fires at recycling centers and trash stations around the country in recent years, because lithium-ion batteries — the rechargeable batteries — are becoming more and more common.”
Read More: https://buckrail.com/garbage-truck-fire-potentially-linked-to-improper-battery-disposal/

Scientists have been investigating Na-ion batteries as an alternative to Li-ion batteries because of their improved stability and low cost, but several bottlenecks and limitations have blocked the technology’s advancement.
Read More: https://www.livescience.com/technology/engineering/days-numbered-for-risky-lithium-ion-batteries-scientists-say-after-fast-charging-breakthrough-in-sodium-ion-alternative

In addition to significant gains in energy and power density safety tests showed that batteries neither caught fire nor exploded when punctured, and the electrolyte rapidly solidified when exposed to air, preventing leakage.
Read More: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/lithium-free-battery-breaks-voltage-barrier-for-ultra-cheap-energy-storage/4022825.article

Researchers have devised a box-shaped container that creates a “state of suffocation” that can easily and safely extinguish lithium-ion battery fires if they occur.
Read More: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16243033

Batteries are no longer just a tech issue or an energy issue – they are a national strategic imperative. The B-MSP aims to equip technicians, engineers, and assembly operatives with the skills necessary to meet future demands.
Read More: https://www.manufacturingmanagement.co.uk/content/news/uk-launches-advanced-battery-manufacturing-training-courses

According to Accurec, their recycling process delivers black mass with a purity of 99%, making it suitable for direct reuse in battery production.
Read More: https://recyclinginternational.com/commodities/battery-recycling/german-recycler-powers-ahead-with-patented-lithium-ion-battery-line/63097/

Check out news from the battery industry from January 2026. We’ve compiled the biggest stories from January related to lithium ion batteries, battery manufacturing, recycling, safety and more!
Read More: https://www.lithiumpowerinc.com/2026/02/06/january-at-lpi-battery-industry-news-and-highlights/

The benefits of Tesla’s new production method extend beyond electric vehicles (EVs). The simplified process is also well-suited to Tesla’s fast-growing grid-scale energy storage business, where cost per kilowatt-hour and manufacturing speed are critical.
Read More: https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/elon-musk-says-tesla-has-solved-dry-electrode-battery-manufacturing-at-scale/

Through integration with Clemson’s e-GRID infrastructure, the systems will enable researchers to evaluate the performance, grid interaction, and system-level behavior of advanced energy storage technologies under conditions representative of real-world power networks.
Read More: https://news.clemson.edu/storen-technologies-deploys-flow-batteries-at-clemson-university-for-grid-integrated-energy-storage-validation/

Battery makers view AI-driven robotics as a new growth opportunity as global demand for humanoid, industrial and logistics robots expands.
Read More: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2026/02/03/biz-battery-industry-robot-market-ai-physical-era/7101770170081/

Through its partnership with Nanotech Energy, Amprius establishes an American supply chain for its high-performance cells to support key customers, including L3Harris.
Read More: https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260203781679/amprius-secures-strategic-us-based-manufacturing-partner-to-scale-domestic-silicon-anode-battery-production

Corvus is betting that purpose-built drones, designed from the start for harsh freezer conditions, can finally make autonomous inventory a practical reality where traditional automation has struggled.
Read More: https://dronedj.com/2026/02/09/cold-chain-warehouse-drone-inventory/

The post February at LPI: Battery Industry News and Highlights first appeared on Lithium Power, Inc..

Connect with Lithium Power, Inc. at The Battery Show 2025! We will be at Booth #6622 ready to discuss our latest lithium ion battery technologies driving efficiency, sustainability, and performance in multiple markets.

Post’s Link:https://www.lithiumpowerinc.com/2025/07/23/the-battery-show-2025-lithium-ion-batteries/

Lithium battery recycling is essential for long-term sustainability in the energy sector as it reduces environmental impact as well as secures access to a valuable resource.

Post’s Link:https://www.innovationnewsnetwork.com/new-research-uncovers-the-environmental-benefits-of-lithium-battery-recycling/60800/

Explore the exciting future of battery technology as 3 experts in their fields discuss the why, what and how of battery innovation beyond lithium ion.

Post’s Link:https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=24429

Take a look at the process Botree Recycling, a Chinese start-up, uses to extract lithium, nickel, and cobalt from dismantled lithium-ion batteries to bolster the supply of these important minerals.

Post’s Link:https://www.weforum.org/videos/chinese-start-up-recycles-lithium/

LG Energy Solution emphasizes the growing importance of local production and supply chains as it becomes the first company to begin mass production of ESS battery cells in the US.

Post’s Link:https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10565271

A new membrane helps to power the next-generation “flow battery” which could allow for far more cost-effective solar energy storage batteries when compared to lithium.

Post’s Link:https://scitechdaily.com/inexpensive-new-liquid-battery-could-replace-10000-lithium-systems/

Lithium Power, Inc. is excited to announce our participation in The Battery Show 2025, the premier event for everything related to batteries: future technologies, breakthroughs, manufacturing, supply chain, and logistics. 

Post’s Link:https://www.lithiumpowerinc.com/2025/07/23/the-battery-show-2025-lithium-ion-batteries/

When batteries are no longer useful for vehicles they may still have value for other uses, this company aims to save valuable resources by repairing and remanufacturing cells for new long-term use applications.

Post’s Link:https://www.electrive.com/2025/09/03/fraunhofer-pilot-plant-carefully-dismantles-batteries-down-to-the-cell-level/

With an average volumetric energy density of ~919Wh/L and fast charging rates reaching 100% charge in 39.5 minutes, the Enovix AI-1 smartphone battery represents a significant advancement specifically targeted at smartphones.

Post’s Link:https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/08/27/tmt-newswire/globenewswire/independent-testing-confirms-enovix-ai-1-battery-as-industrys-highest-energy-density-smartphone-battery/2174573

Instead of focusing on metal recovery in recycling, this newly developed method opts to electrochemically convert lithium manganese oxide into manganese ions for use in zinc-manganese redox flow batteries.

Post’s Link:https://tech.yahoo.com/science/articles/scientists-astonishing-breakthrough-using-old-200000350.html

The post September at LPI: Battery Industry News and Highlights first appeared on Lithium Power, Inc..

Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) Battery Selection Considerations

Executive Summary: Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are transforming material handling, warehouse automation, and logistics. The battery system is essential to their performance, uptime, and operational costs. This white paper examines the leading battery technologies suitable for AMRs, compares their advantages and limitations, and offers guidance on selecting the right battery based on operational requirements.

Definitions: Foreword: Often confused with each other, AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) and AGVs (Autonomous Guided Vehicles) fulfill similar functions and carry out comparable tasks of transporting materials within designated manufacturing sites and warehouses; however, they differ significantly in the methods used to accomplish this work.

• AMR: AMRs operate independently. They can navigate uncontrolled, guided by input from various information sources, with cameras, sensors, GPS, and sophisticated programming. The most distinctive feature is that AMRs need no fixed paths or tracks for guidance.
• AGV: An AGV follows fixed paths or tracks for material transportation, typically requiring infrastructure changes like magnetic tapes or wires. AGVs also have an array of sensors for location input and safety; the track/path they follow is key to their performance and productivity.

1. Introduction: As industries quickly adopt AMRs for tasks like inventory movement, inspection, and delivery, battery performance has become a vital factor in determining reliability, efficiency, scalability, and ultimately, ROI. Selecting the appropriate battery to power the AMR (or AGV) influences:
   • how long it can operate
   • how fast and powerful is the AMR
   • environmental and recyclability considerations
   • how quickly it can be charged
   • how often it needs to be replaced
   • overall safety of the AMR system.
2. Key Battery Technologies for AMRs
   • 2.1 Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4)
     • Cycle Life: 2000–5000+ cycles
     • Energy Density: Moderate
     • Power Density: High
     • Safety: Excellent thermal and chemical stability
     • Charging Time: Fast (typically 1–2 hours)
     • Environmental Sourcing: Low – Moderate
     • Recyclability: Low
     • *Relative Cost:  $45-$60/kWh (cells only)
   • 2.2 Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC)
     • Cycle Life: 1000–2000 cycles
     • Energy Density: High
     • Power Density: Medium-High
     • Safety: Moderate
     • Charging Time: Moderate – Fast (1–2.5 hours)
     • Environmental Sourcing: Low
     • Recyclability: High
     • *Relative Cost: $110 – $120/kWh (cells only)
     • Best Use Cases: Compact AMRs or mobile robots are used in constrained spaces where size and weight are critical.
   • 2.3 Lithium Titanate (LTO)
     • Cycle Life: 10,000+ cycles
     • Energy Density: Low
     • Power Density: High
     • Safety: Exceptional
     • Charging Time: Ultra-fast (<30 minutes)
     • Environmental Sourcing: Moderate
     • Recyclability: High
     • *Relative Cost: $990 – 1,100/ kWh (cells only)
     • Best Use Cases: AMR operates in 24/7 environments with frequent opportunity charging, such as airports or large-scale fulfillment centers.
   • 2.4 Sodium Ion (SI) (emerging technology starting to make inroads)
     • Cycle Life: 4,000 – 5,000 cycles
     • Energy Density: Low
     • Power Density: High
     • Safety: Exceptional
     • Charging Time: Ultra-fast (<30 minutes)
     • Environmental Sourcing: Exceptional
     • Recyclability: High
     • *Relative Cost: ~$87-90/kWh (cells only) (IDTechEx suggests costs could drop ~$50/kWh by 2030)
     • Best Use Cases: Reasonable use in a moderately controlled temperature environment where power density is prioritized over energy density. Accelerating ROI over time while addressing environmental concerns.
3. Evaluation Criteria for Battery Selection
   • Cycle Life and Durability: Determines long-term cost and replacement frequency.
   • Energy and Power Density: Affects the AMR’s size, weight, and endurance.
   • Safety and Stability: Important in human-shared workspaces.
   • Charging Speed: Influences uptime and need for opportunity charging.
   • Temperature Range: Determines viability in cold storage or outdoor applications. (consider the addition of a heater)
4. Battery Management and Charging Strategies
   • Battery Management Systems (BMS): Critical for ensuring safety, balancing cells, pack-to-pack balancing in paralleling applications, and optimizing lifespan.
     • Ability to Series and/or Parallel multiple batteries.
   • Opportunity Charging: Useful in high-utilization environments to reduce downtime.
   • Swappable Battery Packs: These can enhance flexibility in operations but increase maintenance complexity.
   • User Feedback and Monitoring: Ability to gain access to important data such as state of pack health, state of charge, cycle life, pack abuse, and predictive EOL.
5. Some Leading Battery Cell Suppliers for AMRs
   • BYD & Gotion: Strong in LiFePO4 battery packs with industrial-grade performance.
   • LG Energy Solution & Panasonic: Offers compact NMC cells with high energy density.
   • EVE Energy, CATL, & Molicel: Provide a broad range of lithium cells with reliable performance.
   • Saft & VARTA: Focused on customizable industrial battery solutions for niche AMR applications.
   • Toshiba: The leader in Lithium Titanium Oxide (LTO) with its SCiB technology.
   • Natron, CATL, & Faradion (others soon): These are some of the leading makers of Sodium Ion battery cells.
6. One Leading AMR/AGV Battery Pack Supplier:
   • Lithium Power, Inc.
     4000 Moorpark Ave, Ste 105
     San Jose, CA 95117-1838
     United States
     Tel: (408) 837-0206
     Email: info@lithiumpowerinc.com
     Web: www.LithiumPowerInc.com
7. Future Trends
   • Solid-State Batteries: Potential for higher energy density and improved safety.
   • AI-Optimized Charging: Predictive algorithms to extend battery life and minimize downtime.
   • Modular Battery Systems: Allow quick adaptation of AMRs to different tasks or runtime needs.
   • Supply Chain: Continued investment in cell & pack manufacturing expansion in the USA and globally.
   • Environmental: as battery implementation increases, so does the likelihood of environmental pressures. Significant investment in the lifecycle ecosystem is necessary to mitigate the potential
     adversity.

Conclusion

The choice of battery technology significantly influences the performance, safety, and lifecycle cost of Autonomous Mobile Robots. By aligning battery characteristics with operational demands, businesses can ensure maximum ROI and operational efficiency from their AMR investments.

About Lithium Power, Inc.

LPI uses AI tools from beginning to end to develop battery solutions that power AI-driven devices.

An elegant and wonderfully conceived model for success.

LPI is your premier choice for state-of-the-art lithium battery design and manufacturing solutions. From inception to delivery and battery end-of-life, LPI leverages AI tools and innovative processes, along with a firm
commitment to personalized customer service in a traditional manner. LPI is transforming the AMR and AGV industries, one battery at a time. Our skilled engineers and technicians provide custom, high-performance, reliable, and safe battery solutions tailored to your unique, demanding needs and engineered to pass even the most rigorous certification testing.

LPI’s advanced manufacturing facility and strict quality control processes ensure that every Lithium Power battery pack surpasses industry standards.

Join us on the energy revolution journey and explore the true potential of lithium batteries in your applications with Lithium Power’s proprietary technology and dedication to excellence.

OUR UNIQUE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS

• Proprietary BMS with multi-level protection parameters
• Drop in replacement lead acid batteries
• UN, IEC, and UL safety certifications
• Cell and pack balancing for parallel scalability
• User configurable battery settings
• Remote monitoring and management
• Intelligent BMS with communication ability
• Robust IP-rated mechanical design

Sources:

www.Sodiumbatteryhub.com / www.marketsandmarkets.com / www.Blackridgeresearch.com / www.NatronEnergy.com / https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lithium-titanate-li4ti5o12-lto-batteries-guide-vijay-tharad-akdjc/ / www.toshiba.com / https://www.asme.org/topics-resources/content/sodium-ion-batteries-are-powering-up. / https://www.evlithium.com/Blog/benefits-sodium-ion-battery-na-ion-battery.html. / https://www.reddit.com/r/electricvehicles/comments. / https://www.idtechex.com/en/research-report/sodium-ion-batteries/978#. / https://www.mining.com/sodium-ion-batteries-could-rival-lithium-ion-in-cost-stanford-study-finds/ / General Google-Gemini search /

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Recycling Lead-Acid Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are the industry’s favorite, driven by consumer demand, and have become the number one choice over the past few years. However, when it comes to battery recycling globally, lithium-ion batteries are nowhere near the success story of time-proven and reliable Lead-acid batteries that have become one of the most recycled consumer products worldwide.

Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Facts:

• In many regions, approximately 99% of lead-acid batteries are recycled, making them the most successfully recycled battery type.
• Around 80% of a new lead-acid battery comprises recycled materials, including lead, plastic, and sulfuric acid.
• Lead-acid battery recycling processes recover up to 96-98% of lead, reducing the need for virgin lead mining and conserving resources.
• By recycling, nearly 1.7 million metric tons of lead are reused annually, significantly lowering greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
• Many countries, including the U.S. and the EU, have stringent regulations ensuring lead-acid battery recycling through take-back programs and manufacturer accountability.

So how can we follow this model with Li-ion batteries?

Well, the story for lithium batteries is not so simple.

• Li-ion batteries are far more complex and contain many potentially valuable components such as Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Copper, Manganese, and Aluminum.
• Batteries vary in size from small buttons to sizeable electric vehicle packs.
• Li-ion batteries are not designed to be recycled and often contain adhesives, plastics, and welded materials that are difficult to disassemble.
• There are too few recycling companies to handle the volume and economies of recycling. The market is immature and lacks the technology and scale to deliver success.

Due to economics, current battery recycling processes typically recover only certain metals for reuse. Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are commonly not recycled because the only valuable metal is lithium.

The standard methodology is:

• Discharge the battery to prevent risks of fire or explosion during processing.
• Manually dismantle the batteries to separate components like the casing, wiring, and current collectors (copper and aluminum).
• Shred the battery material to form, commonly called ‘black mass’, and sent it onward for specialized processing, such as pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, to extract the valuable materials.

Some key innovations include:

• Direct Recycling, which retains more battery materials in usable condition.
• Bioleaching (Microbial Recycling) is where microorganisms like bacteria or fungi extract metals by producing organic acids.
• Electrode-to-electrode recycling directly converts used electrodes into new electrodes with minimal reprocessing.
• Ultrasonic Recycling, where ultrasound waves are used to remove valuable coatings (e.g., cathode material) from battery foils.

These novel recycling methods aim to make lithium-ion battery recycling more sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective, supporting the growing demand for eco-friendly energy storage solutions.

Custom Made Batteries Designed for End of Life Battery Recycling

At Lithium Power Inc., we prioritize the environment. All our custom-designed batteries are engineered with end-of-life in mind. We rely on good partners from the industry to help us with our recycling journey.

We thank Lesley Blaine, co-founder of Collaborative Engineering Services for this overview of repurposing and reusing batteries. CES works with companies to ensure battery assets are fully utilized and have a profitable end of life. For more information, please email: info@collaborativeengineeringservices.uk

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