NEO Battery Launches High Energy Density 21700 Cylindrical Cell & Awarded Grand Prize at K-Battery Show
- Launched high energy density 6.3Ah 21700 cylindrical cell achieving 307 Wh/kg to respond to growing demand from drone and robotics manufacturers
- Awarded Grand Prize in Innovation Category at K-Battery Show in recognition of new product's performance enhancement
- Installing pre-commercial assembly equipment for tabless-architecture 21700 cell with targeted annual capacity of 360,000 cells and commissioning by end of year
- Opening 21700 manufacturing capacity for foundry services and custom cell development to provide alternative, secure supply for non-Chinese, NDAA-compliant cells
TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- NEO Battery Materials Ltd. ("NEO" or the "Company") (TSXV: NBM) (OTC: NBMFF), a low-cost, silicon-enhanced battery manufacturer enabling high-performance capabilities for drones, robotics, and physical AI, is pleased to announce the launch of a high energy density 6.3Ah 21700-format cylindrical cell, responding to the growing demand from drone/UAV and robotics manufacturers for standardized cell format offerings. Alongside the product launch, the Company's 21700 cell was awarded the Grand Prize in the Innovation category at the K-Battery Show, one of South Korea's largest battery exhibitions.
NEO's 6.3Ah 21700 cylindrical cell achieves a high energy density of 307 Wh/kg with a maximum continuous discharge rate of 2C and a target cycle life of 1,000 cycles based on standard charging/discharging protocols. As the 21700 format is a standardized form factor across various industries, the Company's cells can be adopted as a direct replacement in systems while extending operational runtime or endurance through higher energy content and lighter construction. NEO aims to distribute and supply the cells directly into drone, robotics, defense, and e-mobility applications, starting with local and Asia-Pacific markets.
In recognition of the product's capacity and performance advancement, NEO's 21700 cylindrical cell was awarded the Grand Prize in the Innovation Award category at the K-Battery Show, one of South Korea's largest lithium-ion battery exhibitions. The award was determined through a competitive selection process judged by a committee of independent battery engineers and industry experts.
At the Cell Assembly Expansion Factory in South Korea, the Company has procured pre-commercial manufacturing equipment for tabless-architecture 21700 cylindrical cells and expects to commission production by the end of this year. The targeted pre-commercial capacity is approximately 360,000 cells annually on a continuous production basis, translating into 6 to 8 MWh of annual output depending on energy- or power-focused battery designs.
In parallel with direct sales, the Company will also open 21700 manufacturing capacity for foundry services (contract manufacturing) and custom cell development and commercialization, serving U.S. and NATO defense and battery companies that need a manufacturing partner to advance in-house design to qualified production. This offering positions NEO to provide customers an alternative, secure supply of U.S. Department of Defense NDAA-compliant, non-Chinese cylindrical cells, as 21700 cell procurement has been materially constrained by substantial consumption from drone warfare.
"NEO's product innovation is driven by a team carrying more than 100 years of combined experience from the world's largest lithium-ion battery manufacturers," stated Mr. Spencer Huh, CEO & President of NEO. "Prior to this launch, our engineers have commercialized various renditions of the 18650 and 21700 cylindricals at the gigafactory scale, in which many products are being mass-produced and utilized in active systems today. As we possess the necessary technical and manufacturing capabilities internally, NEO will actively move the cylindrical offering from pilot to commercial-scale production along with its pouch-format portfolio."
About NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
NEO Battery Materials is a Canadian-South Korean battery technology company focused on developing and producing silicon-enhanced lithium-ion batteries in drones, robotics, physical AI, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems. With a patent-protected, low-cost silicon manufacturing process, NEO Battery enables longer-running and ultra-fast charging properties and provides end-to-end battery solutions from materials selection, cell architecture, and process optimization. The Company aims to be a globally-leading producer of high-performance lithium-ion batteries and materials, building a secure, robust battery supply chain for Western manufacturers. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: https://www.neobatterymaterials.com/.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Spencer Huh
Director, President, and CEO
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified notably by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: volatile stock prices; the general global markets and economic conditions; the possibility of write-downs and impairments; the risk associated with the research and development of battery-related technologies; the risk associated with the effectiveness and feasibility of battery material, electrode, and cell technologies that have not yet been tested or proven on commercial scale or under real-world operating conditions; the risks associated with battery-related manufacturing process scale-up, including maintaining consistent material, component, and cell quality, production yields, and process reproducibility at a pilot, semi-commercial, or commercial scale; the risks associated with compatibility of existing battery chemistries, formulations, components, or designs; unforeseen risks associated with entering into and maintaining collaborations, joint ventures, partnerships, or commercial contracts with battery cell manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers, and various companies in the global battery and downstream end-user supply chain; the risks associated with the failure to develop and produce commercially viable battery-related products or that technical goals may not be achieved within expected timelines or budgets under a joint development or collaboration; the risks associated with the Company's technologies and products not meeting performance requirements or customer specifications; the risks that prototype and pilot-scale products do not advance into commercially produced products or translate into commercial orders; the risk associated with battery components and cell purchase orders and offtake supply that may not be fulfilled in full, on time, or at all as actual revenue realization depends on delivery schedules, achievement of technical milestones, and customer acceptance and validation; the risk associated with losing official vendor registration or status with existing customers; counterparty risk upon delivery of prototype and commercial products; the risks associated with constructing, completing, securing, and financing pilot, semi-commercial, and commercial battery materials, components, and cell manufacturing facilities including the Canadian and South Korean facilities; the risks associated with potential delays or increased costs with site preparation, equipment procurement and installation, and facility commissioning; the risks associated with integrating silicon anode material production, electrode manufacturing, and cell assembly within a single operational cluster or the Company's business portfolio; the risks associated with supply chain disruptions or cost fluctuations in raw materials, processing chemicals, and additive prices, impacting production costs and commercial viability; the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of research, development and production; competition faced by the Company in securing experienced personnel, contracts and sales, and financing; access to adequate infrastructure and resources to support battery materials, components, and cell research and development activities; the risks associated with changes in the technology regulatory regime governing the Company; the risks associated with the timely execution of the Company's strategies and business plans; the risks associated with the lithium-ion battery industry and end-users' demand and adoption of the Company's silicon anode technology and battery products; market adoption and integration challenges, including the difficulty of incorporating silicon anodes and silicon battery products within battery manufacturers and OEMs' systems; the risks associated with the various environmental and political regulations the Company is subject to; risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; the reliance on key personnel; liquidity risks; the risk of litigation; risk management; and other risk factors as identified in the Company's recent Financial Statements and MD&A and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available on www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued R&D and commercialization activities, no material adverse change in precursor, raw material, equipment, and relevant cost prices, development and commercialization plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations, research and development, and commercialization plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is made as of the date of this presentation, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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SOURCE NEO Battery Materials Ltd.
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