South Korean battery and trading company SK On is showcasing advanced thermal management technology with lubricant supplier SK Enmove.
The immersion cooling technology for EV batteries circulates electrically insulating thermal fluids inside the battery pack to effectively dissipate heat. Since the coolant directly contacts the battery cells, it can more effectively suppress temperature rise compared to indirect cooling systems using air or water.
Immersion cooling allows for lower cell temperatures during fast charging conditions, thanks to its superior heat control. According to the companies, it improves battery life by reducing temperature variations between battery cells.
The battery pack incorporating immersion cooling technology that SK On and SK Enmove are developing highlights enhanced cooling efficiency with an optimized fluid flow structure design that maximizes the contact area between thermal fluids and cells.
SK On also plans to incorporate its wireless battery management system (BMS). A wireless chip is attached to the cell tabs, and transmits the collected cell data to the BMS via antennas embedded within the module.
The combination of immersion cooling and wireless BMS ensures the smooth flow of thermal fluids, as there are no wires. The extra space from the absence of physical wires can increase energy density, and the lack of risk of wire defects can improve reliability.
The commercialization of wireless BMS is expected to accelerate the adoption of the Battery Passport, a digital record that provides comprehensive information about a battery’s lifecycle, including manufacturing details, usage history and recycling data. It enables easy data management of a battery’s state of charge, cycle life, carbon footprint and more.
“We expect to see growing demand for wireless BMS and immersion cooling as the importance of safety increases with the rising EV penetration rate,” said Kisoo Park, Head of SK On’s R&D division.
Electric vehicle battery voltage ratings are trending upward from 400 V to 800 V, while those of large energy storage systems are increasing from 600 V-900 V toward 1,500 V. As test engineers evaluate hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) requirements for the battery management systems that manage these batteries, they face a trade-off between simulated cell channel count and simulation accuracy.
When not enough cell channels are available, the system often needs to be downscaled via the DUT’s special test firmware. However, this approach omits the complexity of real systems comprising hundreds of cells, making it difficult to accurately simulate multi-point faults or scenarios where different failures interact. On the other hand, using battery cell simulators with all the required channels is both costly and space intensive.
High-voltage lithium-ion battery packs for EVs and large ESS typically use a distributed BMS architecture comprising Battery Control Units (BCU) and Battery Management Units (BMU). Download this whitepaper to learn more about using ISO-SPI simulation technology to replicate interactions between BCU and BMU.
NEO Battery Materials, a Canadian battery materials technology company focused on developing silicon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries in EVs, electronics, and energy storage systems, has introduced its NBMSiDE P-300N silicon anode product.
The P-300N is a mass-producible prototype that has NEO’s highest capacity retention achieved to date and is optimized to enhance battery stability while maintaining low-cost production. NEO’s R&D refined the synthesis process and material characteristics while maintaining low costs and minimizing initial capacity loss.
The upgraded P-300N incorporates refinements in particle size distribution, shape control and composite layer coating on the silicon particle. The composite layer coating offers enhanced protection against the direct contact of the silicon anode and electrolyte, mitigating capacity loss and improving cycling life. A reinforced polymer coating network helps dissipate mechanical stress without compromising conductivity between silicon particle structures.
NEO said its priority is optimizing the 50-cycle average coulombic efficiency (CE) on the half cell using a 100% pure silicon anode. The P-300N has recorded the highest 50-cycle average CE of over 99.8%. The company is offering two P-300N variations. The high-capacity variant demonstrates initial capacity over 2,000 mAh/g with an average CE of over 99.5% and maintaining performance over 50 cycles. The high-stability variant provides a balance of cycle performance and capacity with an average CE of over 99.8% with approximately 2,000 mAh/g in initial capacity.
The P-300N can be adapted to mass production without modifying existing processing equipment. After completing small-scale optimization, NEO plans to manufacture near-commercial battery cells that have 3-5 Ah capacities in partnership with global battery value chain players.
Tesla just made a big move overseas that’s getting a lot of attention — they’ve stopped taking new orders for the Model S and Model X in China as of Friday, April 11, 2025.
While this might not affect most drivers in North America, it’s still a big deal. Why? Because it shows just how much global politics and trade decisions can shake up even the biggest names in the EV world.
Why did Tesla pause orders in China?
It all comes down to a growing trade war between the U.S. and China.
Last week, China announced a new 84% tariff on U.S.-made cars, responding to the U.S. raising tariffs on Chinese goods up to 145%. That makes it super expensive to ship American-built cars—like the Model S and X—into China.
Instead of trying to sell them at inflated prices, Tesla removed the “Order Now” button from its Chinese site for those models. They’re still viewable, but you can’t place a new order right now.
What about other Tesla models?
Good news though—Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y are still available in China. That’s because they’re built at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Shanghai, so they aren’t impacted by these new import tariffs. These two models already make up the bulk of Tesla’s sales in the region.
What does this mean for Tesla?
Tesla doesn’t sell a ton of Model S and Model X vehicles globally—they only delivered about 12,881 in Q1 2025. But these models come with higher price tags and better profit margins. Some estimates say Tesla could lose around $170 million in revenue just from halting sales of these models in China.
This news comes at a time when Tesla’s stock has already been under pressure. Analysts have pointed to a growing “brand crisis,” fueled by both rising costs and concerns about CEO Elon Musk’s political involvement, especially as the trade tension heats up.
So even though this decision is happening across the globe, it’s a good reminder that EV companies operate in a fast-moving, interconnected world. One policy shift can impact everything from car availability to energy storage pricing.
For now, if you’re in the market for a Tesla in China, the Model S and X are off the table. And for the rest of us, it’s another sign of how international politics and business decisions can shape what’s coming down the road.
EV battery pack voltages are increasing, resulting in greater pack energy density and improved vehicle performance. With this increase, however, comes a greater need for dielectric solutions that are not only reliable and durable, but complement modern pack design and the needs of manufacturing processes.
The Avery Dennison Volt Tough Portfolio of dielectric PSA tapes for EV batteries addresses these needs. The next-generation Volt Tough Stretch offering provides manufacturers with a dielectric solution that’s stampable, conformable, resistant to tearing, and accommodates the heat flow needs within the pack.
Prevention of electrical arcing in EV battery packs is critical
The evolution of EV battery pack voltage and energy density has been pivotal in enhancing vehicle performance and range.
Today’s EVs utilize battery packs operating at 400V or 800+V. This enables faster charging times and more efficient power delivery to the motor. Concurrently, improvements in energy density — the amount of energy stored per unit of mass or volume — have allowed for lighter, more compact battery packs that can store more energy.
Prevention of electrical arcing has always been a core safety concern in battery pack design. With this growth in pack performance, however, prevention has become imperative to prevent short circuits; thermal runaway; or electrical hazards for the driver, passengers, and service technicians.
An overview of traditional dielectric protection solutions
Robust, cost-effective dielectric protection solutions are thus needed, and EV battery manufacturers have employed a variety of methods. The most common are dielectric coatings (applied by spraying or dipping), or pressure-sensitive (PSA) tapes utilizing dielectric films such as PET or polyimide.
These coatings and tapes can be applied to the internal components of a battery pack to prevent unintended electrical conduction. They ensure battery packs can operate effectively in diverse conditions, improving their performance and longevity, and enhancing driver and passenger safety.
Dielectric coatings have enjoyed an added advantage over film tapes due to their ability to be easily applied to stamped metal parts with complex geometries. As manufacturers continue to evolve their designs, conformability has become an increasingly important requirement for dielectric materials.
Shortcomings of traditional conformable dielectric solutions
Dielectric coatings can indeed be effective electrical insulators in modern EV batteries, and they are highly appealing due to their conformability. However, these coatings do have shortcomings that can affect the manufacturing process and the overall effectiveness of the battery pack design.
Better conformable dielectric solutions are needed that allow manufacturers to avoid these shortcomings. PSA tapes with stampable dielectric films, designed to be stamped and formed with their underlying substrates, are just such a solution.
Evaluating stampable dielectric tapes against competing dielectric technologies
A new type of PSA tape technology is now available that addresses these shortcomings. This tape features a highly conformable dielectric film facestock that is fully compatible with metal stamping processes.
The tape can be applied to a metal blank (manual or automated application process), then stamped along with the blank. The result is a formed metal part with dielectric protection already applied. Unlike coatings, the PSA tape and its conformable dielectric film resist damage or cracking in the press.
In testing completed at the Avery Dennison Performance Tapes laboratory, an ISO-9000 facility, samples of a PSA-based dielectric protection solution were applied to aluminum sheet metal blanks. The samples were then stamped to test the durability of the tape under various pressures typical of industrial metal stamping. In all cases, the PSA solution withstood applied pressures, even in extreme instances when sufficient pressure was applied to crack the aluminum substrate.
Here’s how this new technology compares to traditional dielectric solutions.
There are a host of challenges associated with dielectric coatings, including:
Limited assembly line flexibility
Increased waste and cost
Lack of conformability to complex parts/shapes
Limited space in battery pack due to dielectric coating thickness
Large physical equipment footprint
Easily torn or cracked
Thankfully, Stampable dielectric PSA tapes provide an alternative to the above challenges, through the following solutions:
Less labor-intensive process and faster assembly line
Lower scrap rates and higher production rates
Stampable tapes combine high elongation at break and high tear resistance
Stampable dielectric PSA tape provides significantly more dielectric strength per unit of thickness compared to a typical dielectric coating
Physical footprint for tape application is significantly less than what is required for coating application
Very high elongation at break combined with high tear resistance.
Introducing Next-Generation Volt Tough Stretch | A PSA-based stampable dielectric solution from Avery Dennison
Avery Dennison has developed and introduced a PSA-based dielectric protection solution. Part of the company’s Volt Tough portfolio, this tape is the next generation of the Volt Tough Stretch PSA dielectric tape (Avery Dennison part number FT 0031).
This solution is designed to accommodate a wide range of needs while addressing key challenges for electrical insulation in battery packs. Importantly, this new tape solution is highly compatible with metal stamping processes and other metal-forming techniques.
Put simply, next-generation Volt Tough Stretch can be applied to a metal blank, then stamped into a complex shape without significant risk of the tape cracking, tearing, or sustaining any other type of damage.
Like all PSA tapes, next-generation Volt Tough Stretch is easy to apply and reposition, features a thin profile, and is durable for the life of the battery.
Applications
Next-generation Volt Tough Stretch can be used for bonding and protection in various applications throughout a battery pack. It has been increasingly used with cooling plates and pack structures.
Pack structural components
Flexible and rigid busbar and cell connection systems in EV battery assemblies
Various cooling components, including chill plates and cooling ribbons
Avery Dennison solutions for EV battery manufacturing
The Avery Dennison EV Battery portfolio includes various functional bonding and protection tapes built on multiple PSA technologies. These are engineered to make EV batteries safer, more efficient and easier to assemble.
The portfolio can help manufacturers solve some of the most common challenges in battery design and construction, including reducing flammability, boosting dielectric strength and design/assembly optimization.
Beyond bonding
Avery Dennison Performance Tapes offers extensive support beyond its product portfolio. This includes providing converters and end users with access to testing and collaboration with subject matter experts to develop unique solutions for EV Battery applications.
Doosan Bobcat, a US-based manufacturer of farm and construction equipment, has signed a memorandum of understanding with LG Energy Solutions that will allow it to enter the battery pack business.
The move will accelerate the vertical integration of core components, the company said, allowing it to collaborate with LG to make standardized battery packs for compact construction equipment.
The news comes on the heels of the signing of a technical assistance agreement with CosMX in February 2025 that enabled Doosan to secure technologies for battery pack design and manufacturing.
“Through this MOU, the two companies will collaborate for standardized lithium-ion battery packs and solutions for compact construction equipment and supply them to key markets including North America,” Doosan Bobcat stated. “Specifically, LG Energy Solution will provide lithium-ion battery cells or modules, while Doosan Bobcat will add battery management systems and package them to standard battery packs optimized for compact construction equipment.”
The West Fargo-based concern, one of the few major manufacturing companies operating in North Dakota, was founded in 1958 by Louis and Cyril Keller. The company began to use the Bobcat brand name in 1962 on a 440-model loader. The current owner, Doosan, manufactures and sells skid steer loaders, compact excavators, side-by-sides, compact tractors, mowers and other small hydraulic equipment under the Bobcat brand.
Charged recently chatted with Bobcat Company’s Vice President of Global Innovation, Joel Honeyman, to learn more about the design of its electric platform.
AM Batteries, which is developing dry battery electrode technology, has entered a joint development agreement with Japanese electronics manufacturer TDK to develop energy-efficient battery manufacturing.
The partnership aims to enhance sustainability, improve battery manufacturing scalability and accelerate the development of solid-state batteries. TDK’s investment arm TDK Ventures is an investor in AM Batteries.
AM’s dry coating technology eliminates the need for solvents and electrode drying, reducing energy consumption by 75% and capital expenditures by 30% in the battery electrode manufacturing process. By integrating the technology with TDK’s advanced materials and manufacturing, the companies aim to increase battery efficiency and performance.
“Partnering with AM Batteries marks a key step in making battery production more efficient and environmentally friendly,” said Shigeki Sato, Chief Technology Officer at TDK. “Dry coating technology offers a compelling path to reducing waste and energy use while maintaining high performance and enabling next-generation battery chemistries.”
German startup PULSETRAIN has raised €6.1 million in seed financing to develop its powertrain technology.
The financing round was led by Vsquared Ventures and Planet A and joined by Climate Club. PULSETRAIN said it will use the funds to accelerate its product development as the company prepares to industrialize and scale.
PULSETRAIN takes a holistic approach, integrating the functions of the battery management system (BMS), the inverter and the charging electronics into a highly integrated “In-Battery” solution. The multilevel inverter is designed to enable more efficient energy utilization through a combination of hardware and software. A standardized electronic system enables the integration of the entire powertrain inside the battery housing, reducing the number of components.
The company is initially focusing on the electrification of two-wheelers and commercial vehicles before expanding the system to other sectors such as automotive, aviation, agriculture and shipping. PULSETRAIN is working on developing and implementing a test vehicle and production planning.
“Today’s powertrain technologies originate from traditional electrical engineering, while battery systems have their roots in chemistry. Additionally, a significant software component is required to control battery-powered vehicles. PULSETRAIN unites these three fields of expertise, developing a new, more powerful, software-driven architecture designed for e-mobility,” said Thomas Plaschko, co-founder of PULSETRAIN. “We reduce weight, increase battery lifespan, and simultaneously lower costs. This allows manufacturers to produce lighter, more efficient, and cost-optimized vehicles.”
Japanese semiconductor firm Renesas Electronics has introduced an all-in-one system for managing lithium-ion battery packs in consumer products, including e-bikes.
The Ready Battery Management System with Fixed Firmware (R-BMS F) comes with pre-validated firmware to reduce the learning curve for developers, enabling rapid designs of safe, power-efficient battery management systems.
Designed for lithium-ion batteries in 2-4 and 3-10 cell series, R-BMS F includes the company’s fuel gauge integrated circuits (FGICs), an integrated microcontroller (MCU) and an analog battery front end, pre-programmed firmware, software, development tools and full documentation.
Renesas’s FGIC solution combines an analog battery front end and an ultra-low-power RL78 MCU into a single, small package. The analog portion provides accurate measurements of cell voltage, current and temperature, as well as controlling the external MOSFETs and converting analog data to digital signals. The digital section includes the main CPU, clocks, timers and serial interfaces.
The R-BMS F includes built-in, pre-tested firmware designed to work with the onboard MCU. The firmware includes critical pre-programmed functions to maximize battery life and ensure safe operation, including cell balancing, current control and voltage and temperature monitoring. For added flexibility, the BMS lets developers set many parameters to meet specific requirements and adjust the system for different cell chemistries via a graphical user interface, without the need for a full integrated development environment.
“One of the biggest bottlenecks for designing advanced power management solutions is the complex task of firmware development and validation,” said Chris Allexandre, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Power at Renesas. “Not everyone has the expertise or in-house resources to write their own algorithms. Our all-in-one R-BMS F battery management system eliminates this process and provides market-ready power solutions that work without requiring specialized technical knowledge of MCU programming or advanced battery management design.”
The R-BMS F for 3 to 10S cell (~12-40 V) solutions runs on Renesas RAJ240100 and RAJ240090 lithium-ion battery FGICs for e-bikes and other e-mobility applications. Renesas has combined these FGICs with other devices from its portfolio to offer its Wall to Battery Low Power Energy Storage System and USB-PD All-in-One Battery and Charging Solution.
Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB is nearing completion of the first phase of testing the electric Scania Heavy Tipper truck above ground in Malmberget, Sweden after approximately 50,000 km driven.
The battery-powered trucks are part of LKAB’s goal to electrify the vehicle fleet throughout its value chain, from mine to finished product. LKAB brought the Heavy Tipper to Malmberget to be tested and developed on-site in collaboration with Scania.
Since December 2022, the truck has transported over 300,000 tons of material. Every load, every shift, has been logged to enable a thorough evaluation.
“One thing we encountered was problems with cold oil in the hydraulics of the tailgate, which occurred because we don’t get the excess heat that a diesel engine provides. No one had predicted that problem, but it was solved with an auxiliary heater on the hydraulic tank,” said Peter Gustavsson, Project Manager for the electrification of the Malmberget mine. “Another thing we learned was that you have to start exercising the truck’s brakes because they rarely need to be used, as you regenerate energy back to the battery instead of using the brake.”
“The next step is to evaluate the same truck underground as well,” Gustavsson added. “In the fall, a new, larger Heavy Tipper with four axles, approximately 40 tons of load capacity, twice the battery pack, and higher charging speed will arrive. Around the same time, two new electric tractor-trailers that can load 70-85 tons will also begin to be evaluated in the Malmberget mine.”
Portfolio of dielectric PSA tapes for EV batteries addresses these needs. The next-generation Volt Tough
