January 9, 2026: Cabot Corporation said on January 7 it had signed a multi-year materials supply deal with Volkswagen’s PowerCo battery manufacturing subsidiary.

The agreement includes supply of conductive carbons and dispersions for lithium ion battery applications for the EV battery sector.

Cabot said its conductive formulations are high-performance materials designed to enhance battery conductivity and efficiency. They play a critical role in improving the performance of lithium ion batteries by enabling higher energy density, faster charging capabilities, and extended battery life.

Jeff Zhu, executive vice president and president of Carbon & Silica Technologies, Battery Materials and the Asia Pacific region, said: “This agreement positions us as one of the leading conductive materials suppliers in the European EV battery market.”

In 2024, PowerCo signed an agreement with US solid-state battery developer QuantumScape to industrialize QuantumScape’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology”.

Last year, Batteries International reported that Cabot had launched a next-gen conductive additive aimed at extending cycle life of energy storage systems as it continues its reach into the lithium sector.