Battery

• The nickel-plated steel cell holders market is projected to grow through 2035 due to increased battery pack production for electric vehicles, power tools, and energy storage systems. • Asia-Pacific currently dominates the industry, accounting for 60–65% of global demand and 70–75% of manufacturing capacity. • This growth creates expanded opportunities for manufacturers in China, Taiwan, and South Korea that supply stamped and plated components to the electronics and EV battery sectors.

• China has established dominant control over the global home battery market by securing the production of cells, raw materials, and energy sources. • The country achieved this position by prioritizing long-term strategic planning over the short-term quarterly financial goals common in other markets. • U.S. homeowners relying on residential battery backup systems for energy independence and storm resilience are largely dependent on Chinese manufacturing.

• The global epoxy latent catalysts market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5% to 7% through 2035. • Growth is primarily driven by the rising demand for one-component epoxy systems used in electric vehicle batteries and electronics. • Manufacturers in North America and Europe face a balance of growth from aerospace and wind energy against regulatory hurdles like the REACH chemical safety standards.

No 10 says 29 new trains to be built in Derby will support 350 local jobs, as well as nearly 6,000 across the UKNo 10 has announced the construction of a new fleet of battery-powered trains that will “bring faster, more reliable journeys to the north”.The 29 new trains, which will be run by TransPennine Express, are set to be built in Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby from 2028, which the government says will support 350 local jobs, as well as nearly 6,000 across the UK. Continue reading...

Experts say fires caused by wrongly discarded lithium batteries, such as those in vapes, are putting lives at riskFires at recycling centres caused by wrongly discarded lithium batteries such as those found in vapes are occurring at the rate of more than 10 a week, according to new figures.Experts say the sheer volume of battery fires now occurring at waste facilities has reached a crisis that is putting lives at risk, costing £1bn a year and frustrating fire chiefs. Continue reading...

Chinese-owned AESC has pushed back plans in sign of slowing transition from petrol and diesel to electric carsAndy Burnham moves to cut new EV sales targetsThe UK’s biggest gigafactory has shelved plans to expand production in Sunderland because of stalled talks on a deal to supply electric car batteries to Jaguar Land Rover.Chinese-owned AESC produces batteries for Nissan at its gigafactory next door to the Japanese carmaker’s Sunderland plant. However, AESC has had to push back its ramp-up plans because of lower-than-expected demand from Nissan and the lack of a deal with JLR, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Continue reading...

• Venture capital activity on July 29, 2026, saw significant funding rounds led by firms including Battery Ventures, Elephant, Thomson Reuters Ventures, and Y Combinator. • The largest investments over a 12-hour period were concentrated in AI infrastructure and enterprise technology rather than consumer-facing applications. • This trend indicates a strategic shift where investors are prioritizing foundational business solutions and infrastructure over speculative market hype.

• Venture capital activity on July 28, 2026, shifted away from large foundation models toward practical AI and industrial technology systems. • Funding was directed into specialized sectors including cloud access control, AI-agent governance, enterprise data semantics, voice infrastructure, and pathogen diagnostics. • Investments also targeted high-impact hardware and science, specifically PFAS destruction, radar satellites, and a new quantum-computing architecture.

• New EU car registrations increased by 5.7% during the first half of 2026, driven by strong performance in June despite ongoing geopolitical headwinds. • Battery-electric vehicles reached a 20.7% market share, with significant growth in France (+62.9%), Germany (+48%), and Denmark (+41.2%). • Hybrid-electric car registrations rose to 2,198,148 units, supported by double-digit growth in Italy (+23%) and Spain (+20.8%).

Supplier Agratas sacks its main building contractor on the government-backed project amid a budget mismatchJaguar Land Rover faces the risk of delays to the first deliveries of electric car batteries from a £5.2bn government-backed factory in Somerset after construction problems.The British carmaker is planning to rely on the Agratas factory in Bridgwater, Somerset, to supply the batteries for its new electric models. Agratas and JLR are owned by the Indian industrial conglomerate Tata. Continue reading...