ProLogium announced that its latest all‑solid‑state lithium‑metal cell has been installed in Nakayama Iron Works’ NE100MG electric self‑propelled soil improvement machine, marking the first real‑world deployment of the company’s next‑generation solid‑state technology outside the laboratory. The battery pack, rated at 1.2 kWh with an energy density of 380 Wh kg⁻¹, replaces a conventional lithium‑ion pack that previously limited the machine’s operating time to roughly two hours. In field tests, the solid‑state‑powered NE100MG achieved a continuous runtime of 5.5 hours, a 175 % increase, while maintaining a temperature range of –20 °C to 60 °C without active cooling.

The integration is significant for several reasons. First, it demonstrates that solid‑state cells can meet the high‑power, high‑temperature demands of heavy‑duty construction equipment—a sector that has long been skeptical of solid‑state safety and durability. Second, the lithium‑metal anode architecture, combined with a sulfide‑based ceramic electrolyte, eliminates the formation of dendrites, a common failure mode in conventional lithium‑metal cells, thereby extending cycle life to over 2,000 full‑depth cycles in the field. Third, the compact form factor (30 % smaller than the legacy pack) frees up space for additional tooling, improving overall machine efficiency.

ProLogium’s CEO highlighted that the partnership with Nakayama Iron Works is a “critical validation step” toward scaling production for other heavy‑equipment manufacturers, including excavators and mining trucks. The company plans to ramp up its pilot line to 10 GWh per year by 2028, leveraging the same cell chemistry that powered the NE100MG. If the performance holds across broader applications, solid‑state batteries could become the preferred power source for construction and mining fleets, reducing reliance on diesel generators and cutting CO₂ emissions by an estimated 30 % per machine ProLogium Press Release.

Blue Solutions released data on its fourth‑generation (GEN4) lithium‑metal battery, claiming a 70 % increase in vehicle autonomy compared with its previous GEN3 cells. The new solid‑state architecture combines a high‑voltage garnet‑type ceramic electrolyte with a lithium‑metal anode, delivering an energy density of 420 Wh kg⁻¹ and a nominal voltage of 4.2 V. In a controlled test on a 12‑meter e‑bus, the GEN4 pack enabled a range of 350 km on a single charge, up from 210 km with GEN3, while maintaining a cycle life of 5,000 full‑depth cycles at 80 % depth‑of‑discharge.

Blue Solutions attributes the performance jump to three engineering advances: (1) a nanostructured interface layer that suppresses interfacial resistance, (2) a proprietary dry‑electrode coating process that eliminates the need for liquid solvents, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost, and (3) an optimized cell stack design that improves thermal management without active cooling. The company also announced a new modular bus‑integration kit that allows retrofitting of existing chassis, a move aimed at reviving its e‑bus line after a brief production pause.

Industry analysts view the GEN4 breakthrough as a potential turning point for solid‑state batteries in public transport, where safety, energy density, and long cycle life are paramount. The higher specific energy could lower the total cost of ownership by up to 15 % over a 12‑year service life, according to a recent market study Clean Solutions Report. Blue Solutions plans a limited pilot rollout with a French municipal transit agency in early 2027, with full‑scale production targeted for 2029 once the 10 GWh annual capacity line is operational. If successful, the GEN4 cell could accelerate the shift from diesel‑powered buses to zero‑emission solid‑state fleets across Europe and beyond.