The all-electric Mercedes-AMG 4‑Door Coupe is based on the high-performance AMG.EA architecture and features a new drive concept comprising axial flux motors developed by the British electric-motor specialist Yasa and a high-performance battery that shifts “the benchmark in the high-performance segment”, the auto maker said.

Mercedes‑AMG demonstrated the capability of this drivetrain technology last year with the record drive of the Concept AMG GT XX in Nardò, Italy, where the technology demonstrator sprinted over 40,000km in seven days and 13 hours, breaking a total of 25 long-distance records in the process. (Read more on the concept in the April 2026 issue of APTI).

Mercedes-AMG is offering two powertrains: the Mercedes‑AMG GT 63 4-Door Coupe and the Mercedes‑AMG GT 55 4-Door Coupe.

“From my time at AMG, I know how high the bar is set in Affalterbach. With this first model on the new AMG.EA architecture, we don’t just meet it, we move it,” said Ola Källenius, chairman of the board of management, Mercedes‑Benz Group.

Three key aspects contribute significantly the performance capability: new battery cells, an innovative direct cooling system for each individual cell and a comparatively high voltage.

Electric power

The sports car uses three electric motors, two on the rear axle and one at the front, that deliver a system output of up to 860kW (1,169hp). These are complemented by a high-performance battery concept. Together, these achieve a 0 to 100 km/h time of just 2.1 seconds, with the vehicle requiring only 6.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 200 km/h. It’s top speed is 300 km/h (with optional Driver’s Package).

Thanks to a charging capacity of 600kW, over 460km of range can be recharged in just 10 minutes. A typical charging cycle from 10% to 80 % state of charge (SoC) takes 11 minutes.

In an axial flux motor, the electromagnetic flux runs parallel to the motor’s axis of rotation, unlike conventional electric motors where it runs perpendicular. The design uses a stator positioned between two rotor discs in an H-configuration to improve magnetic efficiency.

The electric motors are integrated into High-Performance Electric Drive Units (HP.EDUs) on each axle. At the rear, two axial flux motors are combined with a compact single-stage planetary gearbox within a shared housing. The system includes oil cooling, an integrated pump control unit and water-cooled silicon-carbide (SiC) inverters, designed to support high-voltage and high-performance operation. The axial flux motors can exceed 13,000rpm.

The front HP.EDU includes an axial flux motor, transmission, silicon-carbide (SiC) inverter and pump control unit. The motor can exceed 15,000rpm and operates as a front-axle booster motor, engaging when additional power or traction is needed.

“This vehicle underscores the broad performance spectrum of our comprehensive development strategy and the consistent transfer of the Concept AMG GT XX technology program into series production,” said Jörg Burzer, member of the board of management and chief technology officer, development and procurement, at Mercedes-Benz Group.

Newl battery cell for high performance 

At the heart of this innovation is a cylindrical, tall and slim battery cell. This format provides advantages for cooling. The small diameter minimizes the distance from the cell core to the surface, enabling rapid and efficient dissipation of heat generated under load, ensuring each round cell is maintained within its optimal temperature range. Laser-welded aluminium cell housing is also a new development, offering outstanding electrical and thermal conductivity.

A full-tab cell design reduces internal resistance by connecting the cell windings across the full surface of the poles, supporting higher charging and discharging performance while maintaining reliability under demanding conditions.

The cell chemistry is based on NCMA (nickel/cobalt/manganese/aluminum) in the cathode and a silicon-containing anode.

Overall, the combination of the tall and slim format, aluminum housing, full-tab technology and NCMA chemistry provides the foundation for maximum performance.

Intelligent direct cooling for the battery cells

The new battery concept uses directly cooled cylindrical cells with a special cell chemistry that ensures uniform temperature distribution and high-performance stability under continuous load. In total, 2,660 cells are used in the Mercedes‑AMG GT 4‑Door Coupé. The individual cylindrical cells are grouped into 18 laser-welded plastic modules.

The high-voltage battery is integrated centrally into the structure of the e-skateboard. Its protective housing (safety box) encloses the cell modules, all switching components and the battery management system (BMS), also an exclusive AMG in-house development.

Under the transmission tunnel lies a highly advanced cooling system whose core is an innovative cooling module. This module serves as the central interface to the vehicle’s cooling system and integrates key components such as the coolant pump module (KMP), the oil-water heat exchanger (ÖWWT) and the necessary connectors for direct oil cooling.

The temperature of the BMS is actively regulated via a special cooling plate, enabling higher currents. For the first time, virtual sensors have also been used: the BMS determines temperatures – such as within a cell – not via physical components but through mathematical models based on the current charging power.

“The first all-electric AMG GT 4‑Door Coupé takes the AMG DNA to a whole new level,” said Bastian Baudy, chief design officer, Mercedes-Benz Group. “A vehicle that embodies high-tech and innovation, brings performance to life and will set new standards with its radical design approach.”

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Blue Solutions and AVL have undertaken a joint evaluation program to advance battery safety for next-generation cell technologies as they move toward industrial scale-up.

The collaborative program set out to anticipate the safety behaviors of solid-state battery cells under increasingly demanding operational and regulatory conditions, and address technology-specific requirements, including pressure management and mechanical integrity at the cell and system levels.

The initiative combined Blue Solutions’ battery cell technology and AVL’s expertise in battery simulation, validation and safety assessment. Conducted on a non-exclusive basis, the collaboration allowed both partners to strengthen their programs while continuing to support broader industry progress.

Anticipating safety at scale

As battery technologies evolve toward higher performance and higher volumetric energy density, the joint program confirmed that safety can be embedded early in the design process.

The work focused on predictive safety simulations during cell technology scale-up, and evaluated technology-specific behaviors, including internal pressure management. Advanced abuse and failure scenario modeling, and alignment with emerging safety regulations, were also studied.

Toward thermal-propagation-free battery systems

The program also addressed thermal propagation (TP). By combining advanced modeling, pressure-aware design and safety-first architecture, the partners demonstrated pathways toward eliminating thermal propagation risks.

Simulation-based and validation test results demonstrated positive and consistent outcomes, including compliance even under the latest New Energy Vehicle regulations. The technology meets the GB 38031-2025 requirements.

The program confirmed that the intrinsically high volumetric energy density of Blue Solutions’ technology is safeguarded, while maintaining robust safety margins. Results demonstrated targets of up to 25% higher volumetric energy density compared with equivalent NMC Li-ion battery packs, alongside an expected 13% increase in gravimetric energy density.

Results and key lessons learned will be disseminated at leading international conferences and battery industry events.

“We are very happy to have collaborated with AVL,” said Olivier Caumont, battery systems director at Blue Solutions. “Their vision and mastery in multiple sectors, combined with our extensive manufacturing experience in solid-state battery manufacturing and pack integration, including the safety, thermal or mechanical aspects, have enabled us to confirm that our solution is fully aligned with market needs, and capable of fulfilling the most stringent safety requirements.”

“Working with Blue Solutions’ latest solid-state battery technology is a significant step forward for AVL,” added Paul Schiffbänker, director of battery development at AVL List. “It not only deepens our understanding of the specific safety characteristics of this next-generation chemistry but also actively drives the further development of our safety methodologies and battery design solutions. From advanced simulation-based prediction models to new validation and assessment approaches, this collaboration enables us to systematically embed safety into the development of future high-energy battery systems from the very beginning.”

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In line with its sustainability strategy, the BMW Group is applying product sustainability innovations in its latest BMW 7 Series. These include new battery cell technology and an increased share of secondary materials in other body parts, such as the wheel rims. These measures build on established sustainability approaches across the group’s model range.

The Gen6 battery cells for the BMW i7’s high-voltage battery are manufactured exclusively using energy from renewable sources. The same applies to the production of the anode and cathode active material. Cell production also relies in part on secondary raw materials for the lithium, cobalt and nickel required. This reduces the overall supply chain CO₂e footprint of the Gen6 battery cell in the BMW i7 60 xDrive by approximately 33% compared with the Gen5 cell that has thus far been used in the BMW i7.

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The BMW Group is working with Rimac Technology (Croatia) on the new electric BMW i7. The joint project aims to bring Gen6 eDrive technology developed by BMW to the new all-electric BMW 7 Series Sedan. The technology was designed for an innovative high-voltage storage system for greater range and higher charging speed.

“Together, we developed a high-voltage battery system that unlocks the full potential of the new cylindrical cells in record time, delivering significant improvements in energy, range and charging performance,” said Mate Rimac, the founder and president of Rimac Group, and CEO and CTO of Bugatti Rimac.

The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology (Gen6) will be integrated into the new all-electric model in the form of a 4695 lithium-ion cylindrical cell. The cell is characterized, among other things, by a 20% higher volumetric energy density compared with the prismatic cells of the Gen5.

The high-voltage battery, which combines Gen6 cell technology with the established Gen5 module design, enables the new BMW i7 to achieve a significantly increased range.

According to BMW, i7 customers can also charge much more quickly, thanks to the newly developed technology.

“We are quickly rolling out the technologies of the Neue Klasse across our entire model portfolio – including, of course, in our all-electric luxury sedan,” said Dr Thomas Engelhardt, senior VP of development for high-voltage storage and charging at BMW Group. “The teams of both companies have developed a tailor-made solution for the new BMW i7. The excellent collaboration with Rimac Technology is a good example of European innovative strength.”

The high-voltage battery is manufactured on state-of-the-art equipment at Rimac Technology in Croatia and delivered ready for assembly at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, the world’s only production facility for the BMW 7 Series.

Rimac added, “BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us.”

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A new battery design that could significantly extend the range of electric vehicles has been developed by researchers at the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute (ATI).

In a study published in the ACS Applied Energy Materials journal, researchers have introduced the lithium-ion battery anode that delivers some of the highest energy storage capacities reported for silicon–carbon nanotube systems, while maintaining stability over hundreds of charge cycles.

Lithium-ion batteries power much of modern technology. Graphite, the most commonly used anode material, is stable but limited in the amount of energy it can store. Silicon, on the other hand, offers far greater capacity, but it expands during charging, causing it to crack and degrade over time.

To overcome this, the research team developed a Vertically Integrated Silicon–Carbon Nanotube (VISiCNT) structure. The design grows dense forests of carbon nanotubes directly onto copper foil and coats them with a thin layer of silicon, creating a flexible, conductive scaffold that can absorb expansion while maintaining performance.

The resulting anode can store a very large amount of energy for its weight. In laboratory tests, it stored more than 3,500 milliampere-hours per gram – close to the maximum possible for silicon and far higher than the graphite (370mAh/g) used in today’s batteries. It also demonstrated improved stability and performance over repeated charge cycles.

“There’s been a growing push for battery innovation, as many of today’s technologies are limited by how much energy batteries can store. The VISiCNT design offers a practical route to harness silicon’s huge storage capability without sacrificing cycle life,” said Dr Muhammad Ahmad, Research Fellow, University of Guildford.

“This is a much-needed breakthrough, delivering very high capacity, fast charging and long-term durability, while bringing us closer to batteries that can power electric vehicles and everyday devices for much longer on a single charge.”

The carbon nanotubes are grown directly onto copper – the material already used in commercial batteries – using a scalable manufacturing process. According to the University of Surrey, this could make it easier to integrate the technology into existing industrial production lines.

“This work is an important step towards bringing CNT-silicon anodes out of the lab and into real-world manufacturing,” said said Professor Ravi Silva, distinguished professor, interim director at the Institute for Sustainability (IfS), director at the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI) and head of the NanoElectronics Centre, University of Surrey.

“We can grow carbon nanotube structures directly onto copper foil at speed and tailor the silicon layer for stability, meaning this approach could be integrated into existing battery production lines with minimal disruption. The technology has clear potential not just for electric vehicles, but also for grid storage and smaller batteries used in microelectronics.”

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MG has launched the SolidCore Battery, a semi-solid-state system designed to improve electric vehicle (EV) range, charging speed, performance and cold-weather reliability.

The battery features solid-state electrolytes within each cell, forming a protective barrier that extends lifespan and ensures compliance with future regulatory standards. According to MG, this architecture performs well in low temperatures, enabling immediate vehicle start-up without preheating and delivering improved acceleration compared with conventional EVs. The SolidCore Battery is expected to appear in MG electric vehicles in Europe by the end of 2026.

Alongside the new battery, MG has also introduced its Hybrid+ technology, which combines advanced software and hardware to optimize fuel consumption, provide faster power delivery and improve integration between mechanical and electric systems. The technology includes a larger 1.83 kWh battery to extend electric-only range, an innovative three-speed hybrid transmission and an eight-mode Logic Engine to enhance power management.

MG said Hybrid+ also improves cabin refinement through noise and vibration suppression while maintaining high thermal efficiency and responsive, smooth power delivery. A fully integrated Hybrid Control Unit with real-time terrain detection enables the system to adapt propulsion strategies to changing conditions. In 2025, MG sold 137,000 hybrid vehicles across Europe, with the MG HS ranking among the top 10 best-selling hybrid models in most countries.

Commenting on the latest technology advances, MG Europe and the UK’s vice present, Kimi Li said, “MG’s new SolidCore Battery and Hybrid+ technology provide tangible benefits for our customers and position our vehicles at the forefront of their class. These advancements reinforce MG’s commitment to making cutting-edge technology and electric mobility more intuitive, accessible and widely available. Our strategy of developing MG vehicles in Europe, for Europe further enhances the desirability, versatility and value that our cars deliver to customers across the European market.”

The announcements coincide with the opening of MG’s European Engineering Centre in Frankfurt, Germany, which will serve as a hub for developing vehicles tailored to local climate conditions, road environments and customer preferences.

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Donut Lab has released results from a fast-charging test conducted with Verge Motorcycles, showcasing the performance of its Donut Battery technology at full battery-pack level rather than individual cell testing. The system is used in Verge’s TS Pro electric motorcycle.

The test forms part of ongoing research into how multiple battery cells operate together within a complete pack, with a focus on energy density, thermal behavior and fast-charging capability in real-world conditions.

According to Donut Lab, the Verge TS Pro equipped with its battery technology charged in less than 10 minutes, making it “the world’s fastest charging electric motorcycle”, the company said.

“This is the first test we have published to a wider audience that demonstrates the performance and behavior of multiple battery cells in a real vehicle environment,” said Ville Piippo, CTO at Donut Lab. “The high energy density of our battery technology enables flexible battery pack design and superior performance even in more challenging applications, such as motorcycles, where space is limited and system simplicity is key. We are able to offer vehicle manufacturers packs with different energy capacities in the same physical size, with even the smallest packs having very high capacities.”

In the test, an 18kWh battery pack was charged using a public fast charger starting at approximately 20°C. The system reached a peak charging power of over 100 kW (around a 5C rate) for five minutes, with state-of-charge increasing from 10% to 50% in about five minutes. Overall, the motorcycle achieved a 10–70% charge in just over nine minutes, and 10–80% in approximately 12 minutes.

The solid-state-related battery architecture enables flexible pack design, enabling different energy capacities to be packaged within the same physical footprint, which is particularly relevant for space-constrained applications such as motorcycles.

“Our goal is to provide Verge users with the best possible user experience,” said Tuomo Lehtimäki, CEO of Verge Motorcycles. “The advantages of Donut Lab’s battery technology, such as ultra-fast charging, complement our goal seamlessly. The world’s fastest charging electric motorcycle, the Verge TS Pro, is also air-cooled. The battery pack used in this test is our standard model, but an extended range version is also available, with approximately two-thirds more energy capacity.”

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Holyvolt has acquired Wildcat Discovery Technologies to develop, optimize and manufacture next-generation batteries.

Mark Gresser, the president and CEO of Wildcat Discovery Technologies, said, “The Wildcat team is thrilled with this acquisition by Holyvolt. Mathias and team are very thoughtful with regard to their objectives in the battery industry, and recognize the value that wildcat’s high-throughput platform can deliver to our combined company and the industry at large. With Holyvolt’s vision and financial backing, Wildcat can finally unlock the true potential of high-throughput combinatorial chemistry for battery materials.”

The acquisition creates a group with end-to-end capabilities, spanning molecular discovery to pilot-scale production through a fully integrated high-throughput platform. It combines Holyvolt’s screen-printing and water-based process technology with Wildcat’s proprietary high-throughput platform (HTP), which rapidly generates large structured datasets for AI-driven analysis and accelerated development.

Mathias Ingvarsson, the founder and CEO of Holyvolt, added, “The acquisition of Wildcat is a perfect complement to our intended strategy of developing new technologies for the battery industry. Holyvolt is focused on developing new processes to make batteries cleaner and more affordable, and Wildcat has been pursuing the same goals via materials development and better chemistry. Combined, we are building what we believe is the most compelling technology to deliver on these objectives.”

The announcement comes after Holyvolt’s recent €20m (US$23m) funding round and strengthens the company’s technical capabilities across the global battery sector, serving industries such as automotive, consumer electronics, aerospace, energy storage and defense. The combined entity will support partners across the entire battery supply chain as a technology development partner, offering commercialization models, including licensing, tailored to each customer’s needs.

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The RESiLiTE (Robust, Economical, Silicon-rich, Lightweight and Thermally Efficient Battery Packs) project, co-funded by Horizon Europe, has received cell samples at Kautex in Bonn, Germany. This marks a key step toward developing battery packs for automotive applications, with potential expansion into aviation.

The cell samples are currently undergoing testing at RWTH Aachen, which will generate data that will help fine-tune and optimize the sensing and control features of the battery management system (BMS). Securing these samples is a major step forward, as it forms the foundation for optimizing battery charge/discharge timing (high C-rates), ensuring efficient operation without causing damage or shortening battery lifespan.

The project, which began in July 2025, has made significant progress over the past year. Notably, the technical system-level requirements for the battery packs have been successfully defined. Work has also been ongoing on the vehicle and battery architecture, as well as the design and sizing of the full battery pack. RESiLiTE has also been developing the BMS, safety functionalities and fast-charging capabilities.

In 2026, the project will focus on finalizing the design and architecture of the battery pack.

Stefano Piacquadio, project coordinator at Kautex, said, “The project is on track to achieve all its KPIs by developing a prototype that is ready for  industrialization. Together with our partners, we are advancing the state of the art in battery pack technology, developing industrializable architectures with exceptional packaging efficiency, high C-rate capability and advanced diagnostics to support these innovations.”

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Mahle‘s E-Scan battery diagnostics function has been awarded Battery Health Check CARA (Car Remarketing Association Europe) Approved certification, confirming that it meets European quality standards for electric vehicle battery assessment.

CARA certified that E-Scan provides a reliable evaluation of battery condition. The function comes pre-installed on Mahle’s TechPro and Connex diagnostic devices and reads battery parameters such as the state of health (SoH) through the vehicle’s standardized EOBD (European on-board diagnostic) interface. The system evaluates the battery based on original manufacturer data in just two minutes, without requiring a test drive.

Battery health assessments are increasingly important, as the high-voltage battery can account for up to 60% of an electric vehicle’s total value, influencing resale pricing. The certification gives repair shops, fleet operators and used car dealers a competitive advantage by ensuring consistent and reliable battery evaluations.

“We are pleased that the certification of E-Scan further strengthens our role as a competent and strong partner in the growing market for used electric vehicles,” said Felix-Matthias Walter, director service solutions at Mahle Lifecycle and Mobility.

“On the one hand, our partners can quickly answer customer questions about the battery health of an electric vehicle without needing to make additional investments. On the other hand, the certification now ensures comparability and transparency across national markets.”

For workshops requiring more detailed analysis, Mahle offers the E-Health Charge battery diagnostics device. It combines physical measurements of the battery during charging with OBD data, providing a manufacturer-independent SoH diagnosis in 15 minutes. The device is designed for EV-focused workshops, and the E-Charge 20 model adds flexibility with a mobile setup and 22 kW DC charging capability.

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