German battery manufacturer EAS Batteries has begun sales of its ultra-high-power lithium-ion LFP cell, incorporating Asahi Kasei's acetonitrile-containing electrolyte Acetolyte. The UHP601300 LFP 22 cell delivers 2,550 W/kg under continuous discharge, a 60% improvement over conventional electrolytes. With 22 Ah nominal capacity, the cell achieves 3,760 W/kg under two-second pulse discharge and offers 2,400 cycles at 5C/5C discharge rate. Asahi Kasei signed a licensing agreement with EAS Batteries in November 2025, with serial production starting in March 2026. The companies are collaborating on a 46xxx cell format targeted for 2026 launch, primarily designed for low-voltage electric vehicle batteries. They plan to sublicense their combined technologies to global manufacturers for mobility applications.

Asahi Kasei is delaying the start-up of its Canadian battery separator plant to 2029 or later, following Honda Motor's postponement of its Ontario electric vehicle plans. The Japanese materials supplier originally planned to begin operations in mid-2027. The facility was designed to produce 700 million square metres of battery separators annually, enough for approximately one million EVs. Honda holds a 25% stake in the project but pushed back its own Ontario EV plant from 2028 to 2030 last May. Asahi Kasei has slashed its North American EV market forecast for 2030 to two million vehicles from eight million, citing weakened customer demand. The company will supply North America by exporting separators from Japan and is exploring demand from AI data centre markets to accelerate the plant's opening.

Asahi Kasei is expanding its battery separator production in the US with a new Hipore coating facility in North Carolina, targeting growing electric vehicle and energy storage demand. The facility, set to start production in mid-2027, will focus on advanced separator technologies aligned with regional safety standards. The move positions Asahi Kasei closer to North American battery and EV manufacturers, targeting higher-value coated separator products. Shares in TSE:3407 are trading at ¥1,634.5, with a year-to-date return of 15.1% and 78.1% over the past year. The expansion faces execution risks including potential delays and cost overruns, alongside competitive pressure from rivals like Toray, Sumitomo Chemical and SK IE Technology. Financial impact is expected to be phased, allowing time for customer qualification and contract negotiations.