#China #Energy Storage #Chongqing #Hithium #kAh Battery Cell

Hithium Launches World's First kAh Battery Cell

On June 11, 2025, during the SNEC 2025 event, Hithium, a leading global energy storage technology company, made a groundbreaking announcement. It has successfully commenced the mass production of the world’s first kAh battery cell, dubbed the ∞Cell 1175Ah, at its manufacturing facility located in Chongqing, China. This achievement signifies a pivotal development in the wide-scale implementation of long-duration energy storage systems.

Overcoming Technical Barriers

Hithium has been forward-thinking in its approach, predicting the onset of the long-duration energy storage era. The company made significant investments in research and development (R&D) and manufacturing processes for kAh battery cells back in 2022. Overcoming unprecedented challenges in size, process complexity, and quality control, Hithium has introduced five key innovations across its manufacturing chain at the Chongqing facility:

1. Improved Coating Precision: The company achieved a coating mass density coefficient of variation (COV) below 0.2% by employing online inspections using high-precision CCD cameras. This ensures a consistently high-quality product.
2. Enhanced Electrode Stacking Efficiency: The factory realized a stacking precision of 0.5 mm and a speed of 0.1625 seconds per sheet, increasing the stacking yield by 35% over conventional processes.
3. Innovative Cell Structure Design: A patented structure utilizing a 'top cover with integrated 3D airflow' has been introduced, along with dedicated automation equipment to maintain manufacturing stability and enhance large component structural strength, thus overcoming industry bottlenecks.
4. Optimized Final Cell Manufacturing: Advanced baking processes, isostatic high-pressure electrolyte filling at 1.2 MPa, and high-speed formation and sorting have improved final manufacturing efficiency by 45%.
5. Consistent Cell Wrapping: A flexible and highly compatible rolling system has been developed to effectively address industry issues such as wrinkles and bubbles in ultra-large cell packaging.

Setting a New Safety Standard

As the energy density of systems increases with higher capacity designs, product safety remains a fundamental requirement for implementation. During the announcement event, Dr. Xiaoxiao Liu, a safety expert at Hithium, shared insights on the company’s multi-level safety architecture, which spans cell, module, and system levels, ensuring safety throughout the life cycle of large-capacity energy storage systems.

• - Cell Level: Advanced electrolyte formulations provide layers of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and cathode electrolyte interphase (CEI) that are resistant to high temperatures, enhancing both safety and longevity.
• - Module Level: A dual thermal protection structure prevents thermal propagation and oxygen ingress.
• - Battery Management System (BMS): Features functional safety and cybersecurity integrated through multimodal early-warning algorithms and redundant control technologies to guarantee stable and safe system operation.
• - System Level: Fire-resistant and thermal-insulating multilayer materials, along with reinforced internal frameworks and smart fire detection and extinguishing systems, work together to maintain structural integrity and proactively prevent thermal runaway.

Global Expansion and Partnerships

At SNEC 2025, the ∞Cell 1175Ah was awarded the UL 1973 and UL 9540A certifications from UL Solutions, a recognized global safety authority. These certifications validate that the ∞Cell 1175Ah meets international safety standards, positioning Hithium favorably for entry into the North American market.

Additionally, Hithium has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with El Mor, a leading engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company from Israel, to launch its first long-duration energy storage project in Romania, further accelerating the development of local energy storage markets.

The successful mass production of the world’s first kAh battery cell exemplifies Hithium’s ability to overcome significant industry challenges, both in terms of R&D and manufacturing. As the world shifts towards long-duration energy storage solutions, the ∞Cell 1175Ah is poised to become a market benchmark, solidifying Hithium’s position as a top player in global energy storage shipments, driven by innovation and value creation.