Lyten’s lithium-sulphur batteries could challenge China’s CATL dominance

China dominates global battery manufacturing by a wide margin. CATL alone accounts for almost a third of worldwide capacity and supplies carmakers across every continent. Yet this supremacy - watched nervously in Washington - may soon face a challenge from a technology born in the usual place: Silicon Valley.

Lyten’s lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries and a 100% US supply chain

That challenger is Lyten, a US start-up backed by Stellantis, which is developing lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries. This chemistry could mark the next major step for the industry, with a key strategic edge: it relies on a supply chain that is entirely US-based, unlike today’s chemistries that depend heavily on rare earths sourced from China.

The familiar place and the familiar reason

As with much US innovation, the centre of gravity for this new battery technology sits in Silicon Valley. And the driver behind it is just as familiar: the Li-S chemistry was created first and foremost for military use.

According to Lyten, the first Li-S batteries will go on sale later this year in small volumes, specifically for military drones. Versions intended for electric cars are being readied to reach the market before 2030.

“It's no longer a moon mission,” Keith Norman, Lyten’s head of marketing and sustainability, told Automotive News. “I'm not saying it's all ready to be produced at scale tomorrow. But it's a mission that's already in the landing phase.”

New batteries heading for Europe

Despite the promise, lithium-sulphur technology still has major technical hurdles - particularly around durability and the number of charging cycles. Even so, after five years of development, Lyten says its Li-S batteries are on the right track towards commercial viability.

To underpin that goal, the company bought a lithium-metal battery factory near its California headquarters last year, which will be converted to Li-S production. Europe also features in the plan. Lyten has acquired a site in Poland - previously owned by Northvolt - that currently builds energy storage systems, but will also be set up to produce this new chemistry.

Where Li-S could be used next

Looking ahead, potential applications include consumer electronics, satellites, electric bicycles, energy storage systems and, further down the line, electric cars.

This may be the opening the US has been waiting for to reduce its reliance on China in one of electric mobility’s key sectors. In Europe, that same objective has suffered repeated setbacks, with Northvolt’s difficulties standing out as the clearest example.