On September 4, technology media New Atlas reported that Enerpoly, a Swedish company, has officially opened its giant zinc-ion battery factory in northern Stockholm, becoming the world's first large-scale manufacturer using this battery technology.

The factory, named Enerpoly Production Innovation Center, covers 6,500 square meters and has a designed annual capacity of 100 MWh. The company has begun commissioning, but full-scale production is expected to start in 2026.

Compared to lithium-ion batteries, zinc-ion batteries offer several advantages:

They use water-based electrolytes, making them less flammable and reducing the risk of fire and explosion.

They are more cost-effective due to zinc's higher abundance and easier processing compared to lithium, which is expensive and challenging to extract. They also operate over a wider temperature range and require less maintenance.

They are more environmentally friendly since lithium extraction involves extensive mining and evaporation pools.

They have a longer lifespan, with zinc batteries lasting up to 20 years, compared to about 12 years for lithium batteries.

However, a challenge for zinc batteries is their energy density. The media reports that zinc-ion batteries have an energy density of only 106.4 Wh/kg, whereas Tesla's 4680 cells have an estimated energy density between 244 and 296 Wh/kg.