Gelion Sulfur Battery Technology: Advancing High-Power EV Performance

What is the status of electric vehicle battery materials testing?

Gelion is advancing its NES™ technology through independent validation and new commercial partnerships with major automotive manufacturers. The company entered the U.S. market by collaborating with the National Laboratory of the Rockies to develop its sulfur cathode technology and support local supply chains.

Testing by the National Laboratory of the Rockies confirmed that cells using this technology retained 92% of their reference capacity when subjected to a 20-fold increase in cycling rate. This validation confirms the potential for the technology in high-power applications.

Gelion has signed a co-funded proof-of-concept agreement with a top-five global automotive manufacturer to evaluate the material for electric vehicle batteries. This evaluation marks the first time a major automotive partner is testing the cathode material paired with a graphitic anode.

Beyond these automotive efforts, the company maintains a broader partner network that includes TDK in Japan, QinetiQ, and the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany.

What is the current financial position of Gelion?

As of 30 June 2026, Gelion holds £9.6 million in cash and equivalents with no debt, compared to £4.1 million on 30 June 2025. The company reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of £4.4 million for the year, which is higher than the £4.1 million loss recorded in the previous financial year.

This loss reflects the company's ongoing investment in the development and commercialization of its technology. Total income for the year ended 30 June 2026 was £2.5 million, down from £2.7 million in the previous year, with funding primarily sourced from government grants and research and development tax incentives.

How does the NES™ technology work in battery manufacturing?

NES™ acts as a drop-in cathode replacement for battery manufacturing. Because it is compatible with the standard anodes and electrolytes already used in commercial production, you can integrate it into existing lines without significant re-tooling.

The company secured an exclusive global commercial license for this cathode intellectual property from Max Planck Innovation GmbH.

How does independent testing validate Gelion battery performance?

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) independently manufactured electrodes and assembled battery cells to verify the technology. They found that cells using the NES™ technology retained 92% of their reference capacity even when subjected to a 20-fold increase in cycling rate.

Matthew Keyser of the NLR described these results as very encouraging, specifically highlighting the reproducibility of the material and its high-rate performance. These findings confirm the potential of the technology for high-power applications, and the announcement caused Gelion shares to jump 21%.

How does sulfur cathode technology improve energy density?

Gelion is collaborating with several major industrial partners to test its batteries. The company has a co-funded proof of concept agreement with a top-five global automotive manufacturer to evaluate the sulfur cathode technology. Gelion signed a material testing agreement with a top-15 global automotive manufacturer. CEO Matt Wood noted that combining Gelion's materials expertise with the engineering and testing resources of these partners provides a valuable opportunity to demonstrate both performance and manufacturability.

Gelion also works with Nissan Technical Centre Europe on a three-year, grant-funded collaboration. This project includes testing the technology for solid-state battery development.

For defence and aerospace applications, Gelion is working with the UK group QinetiQ. QinetiQ previously tested the technology, confirming it maintains sustained high-power performance under conditions that mimic drone flight, such as repeated rapid-discharge pulses. The company also successfully completed the APC-funded ARMD4 program, where lithium-sulfur pouch cells using the technology completed representative drone mission profiles with stable cycling. Matt Wood stated that these findings strengthen the case for deploying the technology in drones, defence, and aerospace, where batteries must combine high energy capacity with rapid power delivery.

Who is leading the company's commercial strategy?

Gelion has appointed Matt Wood as its Chief Executive Officer and Professor Rachid Yazami as Technology Advisor to oversee the company's commercial strategy. John Wood remains with the company as a Senior Advisor.

This leadership team is tasked with managing the company's global partner network and its intellectual property portfolio. The company has recently taken steps to boost patent protection for its battery technology.

What are the next steps for commercialization?

The company is now focusing on developing larger commercial pouch-cell prototypes. This effort includes a £2.6 million ARENA-funded development programme and a partnership with the University of Nottingham to establish a solid-state pouch cell prototyping line.

Gelion is working under a Proof of Concept Agreement with an automotive partner that provides engineering expertise, testing facilities, and partial funding. The company performs its own testing to ensure its data aligns with these automotive partners.

Longer-term, the company aims to qualify its technology for United States government and defence procurement. Gelion has already achieved target 4Q areal capacity in sulfur coin cells and advanced three U.S. lithium-sulfur patents. Following these advancements toward commercialisation, the company's shares rose over 12%.