Solid-State Battery Breakthrough
ION Storage Systems became the first U.S. solid-state battery firm to achieve customer performance qualification.
The company's Cornerstone™ Cell achieved this milestone, marking a shift from lab development to real-world deployment, after sample cells were shipped to partners in industrial, consumer electronics, and automotive sectors in August 2025. ION's solid-state, anodeless architecture eliminates constraints of traditional lithium-ion batteries, offering higher energy density, improved safety, and enhanced thermal stability. This design uses a solid ceramic material instead of a liquid electrolyte, which reduces the risk of overheating and catching fire. Unlike many solid-state batteries, ION's design is compressionless, simplifying manufacturing and integration. Production is slated to begin in 2026 at their expanded facility in Beltsville, Maryland, with plans for further scaling. ION is initially targeting high-value applications, mirroring the early strategy of lithium-ion batteries, before expanding to electric vehicles. The company has received significant funding, including $20 million from ARPA-E and $10 million in debt financing, to scale its manufacturing capabilities.
