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Anglo-Australian battery firm Gelion has partnered with Nissan Technical Centre Europe and the University of Oxford on a three year research project to develop solid-state lithium-sulphur batteries for electric vehicles, replacing nickel and cobalt with sulphur. The £3.4 million CoRe-SoLiS project, starting in June 2026, has secured £2.4 million in combined grant funding from Innovate UK, with Gelion's UK subsidiary receiving £1.6 million. The collaboration will integrate Gelion's Nano-Encapsulated Sulfur cathode material into solid-state cells using Nissan's development capabilities and Oxford's anode expertise.

Why it matters: The project signals a potential shift in EV battery chemistry away from nickel and cobalt, which could reshape supply chains and manufacturing requirements for charging infrastructure operators planning long term fleet electrification. Solid-state lithium-sulphur technology may also influence future vehicle range and charging profiles if it reaches commercial scale.

The UK Battery Industrialisation Centre has launched a Flexible Pilot Line in Coventry, backed by £38 million in government funding through the Faraday Battery Challenge, to help battery startups and SMEs validate new chemistries and materials before moving to full commercial production. The facility, described as the only one of its kind in Europe, will initially support Echion and Ilika, with Ilika collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover and Oxford University. UKBIC says the line fills a gap between laboratory development and its Industrial Scale Line, supporting battery development for EVs, defence and maritime applications.

Why it matters: The facility gives UK battery innovators a lower risk route to prove manufacturing viability at scale, potentially accelerating the domestic supply chain for EV cells and reducing reliance on imported technology. For procurement teams and CPOs, a stronger UK battery sector could mean more local sourcing options and faster adoption of next generation chemistries that improve charging performance or cost.

Scientists at the University of Oxford have identified a breakthrough that could enable lithium-ion batteries to charge faster and last significantly longer, according to ScienceDaily. The research, conducted in the United Kingdom, addresses key performance limitations in current battery technology. No commercial timeline or specific performance metrics were disclosed in the available excerpt.

Why it matters: Faster charging and longer battery life directly reduce total cost of ownership for EV charging operators, potentially shortening dwell times at chargers and improving asset utilisation across depot and public networks.