New electric car battery concept promises lighter packs with improved driving range

Jointly anchoring the battery electric-vehicle (BEV) industry, ProLogium, a Taiwan-based energy innovation company, together with Croatian Rimac Technology, announced the launch of a battery pack mock-up concept on Monday in Paris. The announcement comes nearly a year after the two technology giants signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in September 2025 to develop a next-generation battery platform. The prototype of the design concept, slated for further testing in-lab, in-vehicle, and on-road, will be showcased at the 2026 Paris Motor Show, the company said in a press statement. Heat-tolerant pouch batteries According to the statement, ProLogium is building cell technology that is focused on a cell-to-pack (CTP) architecture for pouch batteries. Much like the big aluminum food bags, pouch batteries are flat packets made of flexible material that can house multiple battery cells instead of food. The CTP architecture for battery packs is designed in a way that omits the need for individual casings, saving space and reducing weight, but it is prone to thermal swelling. The Taiwanese company is expected to develop a fully operational battery segment by early next year to be presented at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2027 to be held in January in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the same time, the fully functional battery pack is targeted for delivery in the second half of next year. Taking a multi-step approach to achieve the final battery integration into the vehicle, the company has set multiple milestones, including the development and testing phases. “Bringing next-generation batteries to the automotive market requires more than cell technology,” said Vincent Yang, Founder and CEO of ProLogium. Yang said that after building the complete concept mockup, we are currently developing the functional segments. Further elaborating on the next phases, he added, “We are preparing to move into the development and production of a functional battery, progressing toward a full-scale battery pack and subsequent vehicle integration validation.” Well-performing compact light batteries Through this collaboration, the companies are attempting to make lighter and compact battery systems by combining multiple high-energy density lithium battery cells. However, it cautioned that such systems cannot automatically translate into a lighter or more compact vehicle battery system. Exhaustive testing of several factors, including the pack design, cooling mechanism, mechanical integration, and safety, determines which advantages actually benefit the vehicle without compromising on output and performance. Rimac technology, tasked with the technology integration, is exploring multiple approaches in tandem. These cover testing the EV batteries for heat management, mechanical cell integration, and system design. “The work starts from vehicle-level requirements and aims to improve every aspect of the battery design by reducing complexity, combining functions, and reducing weight. It does so with cost in mind, while still delivering state-of-the-art charging times and power output,” said Daniel Kišić, Principal Product Architect of Rimac Technology. Ultimately, the goal is to build a battery that is lighter, less complex, and more compact, with higher charging capacity and performance, not just in labs but in automobiles on the road. “Once validated at vehicle level, the solution is expected to deliver significant weight savings, improving driving efficiency and extending range,” he added. The company has set a target to embark on battery testing for vehicles on the road in the second half of 2028. Once successful, they are open to exploring hybrid solutions combining a smaller and lighter battery pack with the same range or batteries with the same weight but more energy and greater ranges. “OEMs could …choose between more energy on board at the same weight, a smaller and lighter battery for the same range, or any combination in between,” said Kišić. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.