EnPower, a U.S. manufacturer of high-power lithium-ion battery cells, and Echion Technologies, developer of XNO niobium-based anode technology, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and manufacture advanced battery cells in the United States for North American industrial robotics applications. The companies plan to combine Echion’s XNO active anode material with EnPower’s cell design and manufacturing capabilities to develop high-power cells for automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, humanoid systems and other autonomous applications, with EnPower serving as a North American XNO cell-manufacturing partner for these markets.

EnPower lithium-ion battery cell for high-power applications | EV + Battery Tech Monthly

An EnPower lithium-ion battery cell. Photo courtesy of Echion Technologies.

The collaboration is intended to address demanding industrial duty cycles in which battery charging time, power delivery, cycle life and uptime directly affect equipment productivity. Echion’s XNO technology uses a niobium-based active anode material designed to support rapid, repeated high-rate charging and discharging over extended cycle life, while operating across a broad temperature range. Its material structure is also designed to avoid lithium plating, a condition that can limit fast charging in conventional lithium-ion cells and contribute to accelerated degradation under high-rate operation.

EnPower plans to integrate the XNO material into cells manufactured at its Indianapolis facility and pair it with the company’s integrated ceramic separator technology, which is designed to improve heat dissipation, thermal stability and cell-level safety. The resulting cell platform is being developed for robotics applications in which high power, frequent charging and sustained operation are required, while domestic cell manufacturing is intended to provide North American equipment manufacturers with an additional regional source of advanced battery technology.

Although industrial robotics is the initial focus of the collaboration, EnPower and Echion also intend to evaluate the technology for other high-power applications with similar requirements for uptime, rapid charging and cycle life. These include heavy industrial vehicles, industrial hybrid systems and battery storage used for AI data center load buffering, with specific programs expected to be established under separate agreements as development progresses.

About EnPower

EnPower designs and manufactures high-power and high-energy lithium-ion battery cells for applications including industrial robotics, autonomous systems, defense, critical infrastructure and uncrewed platforms. The company operates a domestic cell design and manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, with battery technologies developed around chemistry-agnostic electrode-level innovations. For more information, please click here.

About Echion Technologies

Echion Technologies develops XNO, a niobium-based active anode material for lithium-ion batteries designed to support rapid charging, high power, extended cycle life, wide-temperature operation and enhanced safety for demanding industrial applications. Founded on research originating at the University of Cambridge and headquartered in Sawston, U.K., the company supports applications including robotics, logistics, mining, data centers and energy storage. For more information, please click here.

Source/Photo Credit: EnPower

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Molly Bakewell Chamberlin
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