Battery Breakthroughs: Self-Healing Tech, New Submarines, EV Fast-Charging Leaps & More

From fueling our daily devices to driving the electric vehicle (EV) revolution and now diving into submarines, battery innovations are powering a more sustainable and technologically advanced future for mobility.

As the demand for cleaner energy, greater efficiency, and longer-lasting power solutions rises, breakthroughs in battery technology have become critical for progress. From solid-state batteries to next-gen lithium alternatives and 5-minute EV charging, the latest innovations are redefining what's possible in mobility, energy storage, and sustainability.

So, here are the latest innovations in battery technology that are shaping the future!

South Korean Scientists Unveil Hybrid Anode For Next-Gen Batteries

South Korean researchers at Dongguk and Kyungpook National Universities have achieved a significant leap in lithium-ion battery technology by developing a novel hybrid anode material.


This breakthrough targets enhanced battery performance within 5-10 years, including longer life, faster charging, and reduced weight, benefiting both consumer products and sustainable energy initiatives.

The innovation lies in a hierarchical heterostructure composite that optimizes nanoscale material interfaces. The composite utilizes reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for electron transport and nickel-iron oxide for rapid charge storage via a pseudocapacitive mechanism. To simplify, the new anode material achieves higher charging capacity, higher efficiency, and faster charging.

Professor Jae-Min Oh, part of the research team, highlighted the breakthrough’s potential for more efficient energy storage. She also stated that anode's high capacity and stability can outperform conventional materials even at fast charge/discharge rates.

Professor Seung-Min Paek also credited interdisciplinary teamwork for the success, saying, “This breakthrough was made possible through close cooperation between experts in diverse materials. By combining our strengths, we were able to design and optimize this hybrid system more effectively."

While advancements in lithium-ion technology continue at a rapid pace, the search for alternative battery chemistries is gaining significant traction. 

CATL Naxtra: A Game-Changer In Sodium-Ion Battery Tech

The world's leading battery manufacturer, China's CATL, has officially launched its new brand dedicated to sodium-ion batteries: Naxtra.


This announcement signals a major step towards the mass production of batteries. Set to start in December, CATL is following up on its efforts as the first major automotive battery maker to introduce a sodium-ion battery back in 2021.

Sodium stands out as an appealing alternative to lithium due to its lower cost and greater abundance. Experts also suggest that sodium-ion chemistry has the potential to enhance the safety of EVs by reducing fire risks.

The first product under the Naxtra brand will be a new sodium-ion battery boasting an energy density of 175 watt-hours per kilogram. This is a massive breakthrough, bringing its energy density close to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, widely used in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems.

Ouyang Chuying, co-president for research and development at CATL, believes that as the technology matures and the supply chain for sodium-ion batteries develops, they could offer a considerable cost advantage over lithium-ion batteries. CATL's founder, Robin Zeng, even suggested that sodium-ion batteries could potentially replace up to half of the market currently dominated by LFP batteries.

CATL’s launch of its Naxtra sodium-ion battery brand signals a strategic move to diversify battery chemistries, paving the way for safer, more affordable, and cost-effective energy storage.

Yet, when it comes to EV charging, CATL’s latest battery is making waves—outpacing fellow Chinese autonomous giant BYD’s fastest-charging cells. 

CATL Unveils Shenxing: A New Sodium-Ion Battery

CATL also unveiled the second generation of its Shenxing fast-charging battery, promising to alleviate the persistent concerns of range anxiety and lengthy charging times for electric vehicle owners.


CATL reported that the advanced battery can now deliver an impressive 520 kilometers (approximately 323 miles) of driving range with just five minutes of charging. CATL claims that its system can achieve a maximum charging speed of 1.3 megawatts, a truly impressive feat of battery engineering.

Even under frigid conditions of -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), the Shenxing battery can charge from 5% to 80% in just 15 minutes. CATL anticipates that its Naxtra-branded Shenxing batteries could deliver around 200 kilometers of range for hybrid vehicles and an impressive 500 kilometers for fully-electric vehicles.

Announcing another groundbreaking technology, CATL unveiled its novel dual-power battery system capable of achieving an extraordinary 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) on a single charge.

With innovations such as Shenxing and the launch of Naxtra, CATL is steering the future of electric mobility. Yet, this revolution is happening both on land and, as we'll see next, even beneath the waves. Let’s dive in! 

Samsung SDI And Hanwha Ocean Bring Lithium Batteries To Submarines

Expanding the horizons of battery-powered mobility beyond terrestrial applications, South Korea is poised to unveil a new era of naval power.

Hanwha Ocean Co. and Samsung SDI Co. are collaborating to introduce lithium-ion battery systems for submarines. Later this year, the jointly developed system will undergo final performance evaluations with the South Korean Navy.


Backed by an advanced energy storage system, this newly developed lithium-ion battery system is designed for seamless operation both on the surface and, crucially, underwater. The lithium-ion battery for submarines is touted as an environmentally friendly solution that can also lead to reduced fuel costs.

Furthermore, the battery propulsion system offers tactical advantages, such as near-silent operation, making submarines less susceptible to sonar detection. Analysts predict that the successful integration of this lithium-ion battery system into the Navy's submarines will represent a major turning point for South Korea's shipbuilding industry.

Experts further state that military-led projects could spark important tech breakthroughs, making development cheaper and more accessible. This could speed up the shift to electric power at sea—led by South Korean players such as HD Hyundai, Samsung Heavy, LG Energy, and SK On Co.

With an increasing number of players entering the battery-driven mobility space, the shift towards zero-emission battery power for ships is expected to gain significant momentum.

Despite South Korea’s gains in marine battery technology, not all projects stay afloat—like LG Energy’s recent exit from an EV battery deal. 

South Korea's LG Energy Exits Indonesia's Grand EV Battery Project

South Korea's LG Energy Solution (LGES) recently announced its official withdrawal from a significant EV battery production project in Indonesia, valued at a substantial 142 trillion rupiah ($8.45 billion).

This project, known as the Indonesia Grand Package, was initially agreed upon in late 2020 between LGES and the Indonesian government, with the aim of establishing a comprehensive EV battery supply chain within the country. 


"Considering multiple factors such as market conditions and the investment landscape, we have decided to officially exit the Indonesia GP (Grand Package) project," LGES stated in an announcement. "Nonetheless, we will persist in investigating different paths for collaboration with the Indonesian government, focusing on the Indonesia battery joint venture, HLI Green Power."

Last year marked a significant milestone for the joint venture, with the launch of Indonesia's first battery cell manufacturing facility for EVs, boasting an initial annual capacity of 10 Gigawatt hours of battery cells. With plans for further expansion through subsequent investments, the deal collapse with LGES might lead to a slowdown in funding. 

Researchers Develop Stretchable Lithium-Ion Battery That Heals After Being Cut

In a fascinating development that pushes the boundaries of battery design, researchers have created a new lithium-ion battery that exhibits remarkable physical resilience.

This innovative battery can not only withstand significant stretching and twisting but can also endure being punctured with needles and even cut in half with razor blades—and subsequently heal itself to continue powering a device.

Current commercial lithium-ion batteries typically require rigid, hermetically sealed packaging to protect them from moisture, which can degrade performance, and to prevent the leakage of potentially hazardous and flammable electrolytes.


This battery breakthrough holds significant potential for applications in wearable electronics, soft robotics, and other flexible devices.

The new battery demonstrated stability up to 3.11 volts, a significant improvement compared to past hydrogel batteries, which were often limited to around 1.23 volts. Moreover, over a month of testing, it operated stably for over 500 charge-discharge cycles, retaining an average of 95 percent of the electricity charge it received.

According to Liwei Lin, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, "the battery can be cut in half, put together, and self-heal to still maintain more than 90 percent of its capacity."

Peisheng He, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, notes that “Many materials we used are non-standard to conventional lithium-ion batteries."

The researchers are now focused on scaling up this promising technology from lab-scale fabrication to industry-level high-throughput manufacturing through a roll-to-roll process, says Anju Toor, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Could these smarter, stronger, and safer battery innovations reshape how we power our lives—on land and on sea?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!