The Battery Show Europe is one of the key European events for the battery, electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. From 9 to 11 June 2026, the trade fair in Stuttgart will bring together international experts, OEMs, suppliers, industry partners and research institutions to discuss the latest developments in batteries, electrification and energy storage.
The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology will be present at The Battery Show Europe 2026 and will be showcasing its current research priorities for high-performance, safe, long-lasting and sustainable batteries at Stand 3-F66 in Hall 3. This year’s focus is on material development, characterisation and cell manufacturing, as well as testing, diagnostics, sensor technology and system integration.
Sustainable batteries as a key technology
Batteries are a key technology for climate-friendly mobility, renewable energy systems and an increasingly electrified industry. AIT is therefore working on battery concepts that meet the growing demands in terms of technical performance, cost, service life, safety and sustainability.
A key objective is to reduce the use of critical raw materials, develop more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and focus more closely on the entire lifecycle of batteries – from the materials used, through production and use, to reuse and recycling.
From new materials to pilot production
To ensure the ability to meet growing demands in the future, AIT has been conducting research into new battery materials and alternative cell technologies for many years. These include solid-state electrolyte systems, sodium-ion and magnesium-ion technologies, as well as other battery concepts that do not rely on critical raw materials. These research activities are making a significant contribution to making batteries safer, more cost-effective and less reliant on critical raw materials.
Whether and to what extent these technologies will be used in the future depends largely on their scalability. That is why AIT has been manufacturing battery cells on an industry-relevant pilot scale since 2019. The performance of this infrastructure was demonstrated, among other things, in the SENSE project: there, cells manufactured at AIT achieved a volumetric energy density of 750 Wh L-1.
Solid-state technologies and structural batteries
Semi-solid-state and solid-state batteries are among the most promising future technologies for safe, long-lasting and high-performance energy storage. They rely on solid or quasi-solid electrolytes and can therefore open up new possibilities in terms of safety, energy density and integration. At AIT, materials, cell concepts, process steps and manufacturing methods are being investigated to bring these technologies closer to industrial application.
Structural batteries represent a particularly innovative approach: here, battery cells are not merely regarded as energy storage devices, but are integrated into load-bearing components to save weight and reduce energy consumption. Such multifunctional structures can simultaneously perform mechanical functions and store electrical energy. This approach opens up new prospects particularly for the aviation sector, where every additional kilogram is of critical importance.
Smart Cells and integrated sensors
Another key area for the future is so-called ‘smart cells’: battery cells and modules equipped with sensors that provide information about their current status. Such data can be used to further improve battery management, safety, service life and performance.
This integrated sensor technology is also particularly relevant for new cell and structural designs. As batteries become more deeply embedded in technical systems – such as vehicle or aircraft structures – precise condition monitoring, safety assessment and data-driven diagnostics become even more important.
Test, understand, optimise
In addition to materials and process development, AIT possesses extensive expertise in the characterisation, testing and evaluation of batteries. This includes battery testing, electrochemical analysis, ageing studies, safety assessments and the development of data-driven methods for diagnosis and condition assessment.
This combination of materials expertise, process know-how, testing infrastructure and systems understanding makes AIT a key research partner for industry and public sector clients. The aim is to bring battery technologies into application more quickly, sustainably and reliably.
AIT at The Battery Show Europe 2026
“Our extensive laboratory infrastructure at AIT enables us to develop, characterise, manufacture, test and validate battery technologies from the laboratory stage right through to the end product – from new materials and cell manufacturing to testing, diagnostics and system integration. This makes us a key partner for industry when it comes to bringing innovative battery concepts to market more quickly. We look forward to engaging with companies, research partners and users at Battery Show Europe and warmly invite all interested parties to visit us at the AIT stand 3-F66”, says Katja Fröhlich, Head of the Competence Unit Battery Technologies at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
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