Tag Archive: battery technology

  1. Greenway Battery’s Indonesian facility achieves Certificate of Origin certification

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    Source: Greenway

    The Indonesian facility of LEVA-EU member Greenway Battery has received Certificate of Origin (COO) certification in December 2025, representing the establishment of a fully compliant production base for e-bike and LEV batteries outside of China. This certification allows them to serve global markets with reduced trade barriers and greater supply chain resilience.

    Greenway has charted the trajectory of the Indonesian factory, from Q4 in 2024 seeing its first locally-produced e-bike batteries exported to European customers, to now achieving the COO certification, unlocking the capability for compliant mass shipment, with immediate availability.

    Greenway’s strengths

    The company has highlighted its strategic advantages across three key markets:

    • European Union: non-China manufacturing addressing trade considerations; full EU regulatory compliance; optimized maritime shipping routes from Southeast Asia
    • North America: COO-compliant production positioned for preferential trade benefits; meeting supply chain diversification requirements; addressing non-China sourcing mandates
    • ASEAN Region: local production with AFTA trade benefits; reduced logistics costs and faster delivery; direct access to Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing e-mobility markets (Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore)

    Benefits of COO certification

    • COO certification represents manufacturing capability at the Greenway Indonesia facility, with full production and quality control systems to meet the requirements of various relevant industry standards.
    • Localization development – Greenway’s products have met specified Regional Value Content (RVC) requirements, demonstrating integration with Indonesia’s industrial ecosystem.
    • A key breakthrough in market access – a compliant legal foundation for expansion into the North American market and accessing relevant preferential tariff benefits.
    • Reinforces supply chain resilience, with a stable and sustainable local supply chain which reduces dependency on single-source manufacturing.

  2. German research shows that sodium-ion batteries require different safety mechanisms

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    Source: Electrive, Journal of Power Sources Advances

    Image credit: Fraunhofer EMI

    Researchers in Germany have conducted tests comparing the behaviour of sodium-ion batteries to lithium-ion batteries under certain conditions, discovering that safety mechanism design is not a one-size-fits-all scenario.

    The research was jointly conducted by the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, BAM), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and the Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics (EMI). The research was undertaken to investigate the viability of sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to more tried-and-tested lithium-ion systems, as there is potential for savings in resources and costs, and sodium-ion cell chemistry is considered to be relatively safe.

    The researchers noted that, to compete with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) need to be built with increased energy density. This in turn entails new requirements regarding battery safety, which need to be evaluated through rigorous battery abuse testing, aiming to deliberately initiate a thermal runaway event.

    The testing process

    Three types of batteries were tested, all cylindrical cells in the 18650 format.:

    • NFM cells (sodium-ion cells with nickel, iron and manganese)
    • LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
    • NMC532 (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide)

    BAM wanted to explore the behaviour of the SIBs in comparison to the more familiar LIBs types, and to examine if the built-in safety mechanisms are equally effective. Mechanical damage to the battery cells was simulated using a nail penetration test, where the cell is pierced to “trigger a critical damage event.” This normally leads to an internal short circuit, which, combined with the mechanical damage, can lead to thermal runaway.

    High-speed X-ray imaging technology developed by Fraunhofer EMI was used by ESRF researchers to visualise the internal results of this critical damage event.

    The results

    The tests on the familiar LIBs went as expected, with BAM stating: “The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery proved to be particularly stable. The lithium-ion battery with a nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC532) cathode reacted in a controlled manner – its safety mechanisms worked as intended.”

    The researchers were surprised by the behaviour of the SIB, however, with the test leading to “an almost explosive reaction.”

    The use of the high-speed X-ray images enabled the researchers to determine that the cause of this behaviour was not due to the SIB’s cell chemistry, but instead the structure of the cell itself – specifically, a “failure of the cell’s venting system.”

    The cells’ venting systems are designed to ensure that excess pressure, in the event of an internal thermal reaction, is reduced by targeted venting. BAM noted that, “however, due to the rapid increase in pressure, the venting system was blocked by other components of the safety equipment, which led to the abrupt and violent reaction.”

    Nils Böttcher, head of the BAM battery testing centre, expanded: “Our investigations show that safety mechanisms cannot simply be transferred from one battery technology to another. Especially with new battery types such as sodium-ion cells, mechanical components such as venting systems must be specifically adapted and tested. Our findings do not call into question the fundamental safety of sodium-ion technology, but they do underscore the need to consider chemical composition and safety design together.”

    As a result, BAM is actively involved in the development of standards and norms in the field of sodium-ion battery safety.

    The research was published in issue 36 of the Journal of Power Sources Advances, where video recordings of the X-ray imaging of the tests can be viewed, revealing the internal behaviour of all three tested battery types.

  3. Cleantron deploys laser-welding to enhance lithium-ion battery production

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    Source: Cleantron

    LEVA-EU member Cleantron, a specialist producer of li-ion battery modules based in the Netherlands, has installed cutting-edge Trumpf laser-welding technology into its production line, allowing for increased output with enhanced product quality and reduced environmental impact.

    Cleantron’s product design features a fused welding technology, giving every welded cell its own fuse, and so offering intrinsic battery safety. Laser welding is the key to enabling this safety feature.

    Precision laser welding for multiple battery pack types

    The equipment is described by Cleantron as a key production enabler, performing laser welding with high accuracy, speed and reliability across a wide range of battery cells. From swappable lithium batteries for LEVs to li-ion battery packs for industrial equipment, the machine ensures consistent results.

    The system allows for rapid production changeovers and minimal downtime, enabling Cleantron to quickly shift between lithium ion battery 48v, 36V e-bike battery, and lithium ion battery 48v modules, and from low voltage to high voltage battery configurations.

    Durable welds and smart BMS integration

    Cleantron is able to ensure reliable connections within its lithium-ion battery products thanks to the Trumpf technology. The production line enables smart welding and built-in vision systems for high-quality joins, minimal defects, and full traceability.

    Combined with Cleantron’s proprietary battery management systems (BMS), the precision of laser welding directly supports safer, longer-lasting, and smarter battery solutions designed to perform in demanding environments.

    Efficient, environmentally friendly production

    Cleantron highlights that the Trumpf technology allows them to reduce waste and the need for reworking, and boost production capacity, enabling enhanced consistency of product quality at both small and large production quantities.

    With a wide range of lithium-ion battery products including those suited to the e-bike and light electric vehicle sectors, they provide reliable power solutions to European brands with minimal shipping miles, further boosting the sustainability of Europe-made products.

  4. Greenway unveils dual battery passport solutions for EU compliance

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    Source: Greenway

    At Eurobike 2025, the LEVA EU member recently presented two prototype Battery Passport solutions designed to meet the European Union’s upcoming Battery Regulation (EN 2023/1542) requirements, which will become mandatory in 2027. It has developed a streamlined digital passport for regulatory compliance and an IoT passport in partnership with OKGO.

    At Eurobike, the company premiered its dual-path approach, offering flexibility for light electric vehicle brands seeking either straightforward compliance or deeper system integration

    The first option – the Greenway Compliance Passport – is a streamlined, standalone digital passport designed to ensure core regulatory compliance. It targets manufacturers seeking a simple, reliable pathway to meet the 2027 milestones without additional system complexity.

    The second option – the IoT-Integrated Passport – has been developed in partnership with IoT service provider OKGO. This fully integrated solution embeds Greenway battery data into a broader connected platform, incorporating firmware management, analytics, aftersales support, and rider-focused services.

    Greenway says the two-tier offering allows customers to choose between rapid adoption for regulatory readiness or advanced integration for enhanced product intelligence and lifecycle management. Both approaches are designed to meet the EU’s transparency and traceability requirements for battery manufacturing, usage, and recycling.

    By introducing these solutions, Greenway looks set to position itself as an early mover in battery compliance innovation for the light electric mobility sector by offering future-ready options to manufacturers ahead of the EU’s regulatory deadline.