Echion Partners with ETS to Bring Niobium Anode Batteries to Market

UK-based battery materials startup Echion has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean equipment maker Energy Tech Solution (ETS) to advance its niobium-based anode technology into commercial cell production. Under the arrangement, ETS will handle cell design, supply manufacturing technology, and serve as a contract manufacturer for demonstration cells in cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch formats at its facility in Chungju.

Echion’s XNO material replaces the graphite traditionally used in lithium-ion anodes with a niobium oxide compound while leaving the cathode chemistry — such as NMC or LFP — untouched. The company positions XNO as a drop-in solution compatible with existing electrode coating lines, making adoption easier for battery producers. The chief benefits center on rapid charging and longevity: Echion cites a continuous charging rate of up to 10C, which could theoretically achieve a full charge in roughly six minutes, along with more than 50,000 cycles under optimized conditions.

Rather than chasing maximum range, Echion is targeting demanding applications where batteries are frequently and heavily cycled. These include mining and rail vehicles, ships, forklifts, stationary storage, and uninterruptible power supplies for data centers. Compared to lithium titanate (LTO), which also offers fast charging and high cycle counts, Echion claims XNO delivers roughly double the energy density, allowing for smaller and lighter battery packs.

XNO has been produced at industrial scale since 2025 through a partnership with niobium supplier CBMM at a facility in Araxá, Brazil, with an annual capacity of 2,000 tonnes — sufficient for about 1 GWh of cells. The collaboration with ETS marks the next step in the value chain, with both companies aiming to demonstrate cells that achieve up to 50,000 cycles and 10C charging rates, though real-world mass-production performance remains to be verified.