Key takeaways
- Top pick: Form Energy, best for: Utilities planning multi-day backup for wind and solar. Form Energy says its backlog grew from about 20 GWh to 80 GWh, with new agreements including Xcel Energy, Google and Crusoe.
- Also near the top: Group14 Technologies, best for: Cell makers and device brands seeking faster charging and higher energy; and Lyten, best for: Energy storage and mobility buyers wanting lighter, nickel-free batteries.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Battery Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Form Energy ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.0.
Form Energy leads battery startups globally for long-duration grid storage, with over $2 billion raised for its iron-air batteries, and
Group14 Technologies is the most proven in silicon anode materials.
Lyten leads in lithium-sulfur after taking over Northvolt's Swedish plants, and
Peak Energy is the fastest-growing sodium-ion grid storage maker.
Best Battery Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
|---|
| 1 |  Form EnergyForm Energy says its backlog grew from about 20 GWh to 80 GWh, with new agreements including Xcel Energy, Google and Crusoe. | Utilities planning multi-day backup for wind and solar | 97.0 | Custom |
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| 2 |  Group14 TechnologiesGroup14 says more than 150 customers worldwide use its silicon battery technology. | Cell makers and device brands seeking faster charging and higher energy | 95.7 | Custom |
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| 3 |  LytenLyten says the Northvolt assets it acquired include 16 GWh of existing battery manufacturing capacity. | Energy storage and mobility buyers wanting lighter, nickel-free batteries | 94.4 | Custom |
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| 4 |  VerkorVerkor's Dunkirk gigafactory targets 16 GWh of annual cell production. | European carmakers wanting locally made cells | 93.1 | Custom |
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| 5 |  Peak EnergyPeak Energy says it has more than 6 GWh contracted through 2030, including a 4.75 GWh contract with Jupiter Power. | Utilities and power producers adding grid storage | 91.8 | Custom |
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| 6 |  NyoboltNyobolt says its batteries power Symbotic's SymBot robots and Agility Robotics' Digit 5, and that revenue grew five times year on year. | Robot makers and data centres needing very fast charging | 90.5 | Custom |
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| 7 |  EnerVenueEnerVenue closed a $300 million Series B in 2026 to scale manufacturing of its 30,000-cycle nickel-hydrogen batteries. | Utilities and industrial sites wanting long-life storage | 89.2 | Custom |
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| 8 |  Base PowerBase Power says it is trusted by more than 30,000 homeowners across Texas and Illinois. | Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power | 87.9 | Not public |
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| 9 |  Alsym EnergyAlsym announced a 500 MWh sodium-ion storage deployment with Juniper Energy in May 2026. | Storage projects where fire safety is a priority | 86.6 | Custom |
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| 10 |  Echion TechnologiesEchion says XNO anode material is available at a scale of 2,000 tonnes a year. | Heavy vehicle and industrial battery makers | 85.3 | Custom |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Form Energy (#1): Utilities planning multi-day backup for wind and solar
- Group14 Technologies (#2): Cell makers and device brands seeking faster charging and higher energy
- Lyten (#3): Energy storage and mobility buyers wanting lighter, nickel-free batteries
- Verkor (#4): European carmakers wanting locally made cells
- Peak Energy (#5): Utilities and power producers adding grid storage
- Nyobolt (#6): Robot makers and data centres needing very fast charging
- EnerVenue (#7): Utilities and industrial sites wanting long-life storage
- Base Power (#8): Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power
- Alsym Energy (#9): Storage projects where fire safety is a priority
- Echion Technologies (#10): Heavy vehicle and industrial battery makers
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Iron-air batteries for multi-day storage
Form Energy, founded in 2017 in Somerville, Massachusetts, makes iron-air batteries that store electricity for up to 100 hours, built at its Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia. In August 2026 it raised a $750 million Series G led by T. Rowe Price, taking total equity raised to over $2 billion.
PROS- Stores energy for days, not hours
- Uses low-cost iron
CONS- First projects running behind schedule
- Early commercial stage
- Best for
- Utilities planning multi-day backup for wind and solar
- Where it falls short
- First projects are running behind schedule.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate commercial operation.
97.0
02
Silicon-carbon anode material for lithium-ion batteries
Group14 Technologies, founded in 2015 and based in Woodinville, Washington, makes SCC55, a silicon-carbon anode material that lets lithium-ion cells hold more energy and charge faster. In August 2025 it closed a $463 million Series D and took full ownership of its battery materials factory in South Korea.
PROS- Drop-in material for existing cell factories
- Large customer base
CONS- Supplies materials, not finished batteries
- Competes with other silicon anode makers
- Best for
- Cell makers and device brands seeking faster charging and higher energy
- Where it falls short
- It supplies raw materials rather than finished batteries.
- Pick something else if
- you need complete battery packs.
95.7
03
Lithium-sulfur batteries and 3D graphene
Lyten, founded in 2015 and based in San Jose, California, develops lithium-sulfur batteries using its 3D graphene materials. In February 2026 it completed its acquisition of Northvolt's operations in Sweden, including Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå and Northvolt Labs in Västerås.
PROS- Avoids nickel and cobalt
- Large manufacturing footprint acquired
CONS- Lithium-sulfur still early commercially
- Integrating large acquired sites
- Best for
- Energy storage and mobility buyers wanting lighter, nickel-free batteries
- Where it falls short
- Lithium-sulfur technology remains early in commercial deployment.
- Pick something else if
- you need proven, mature battery solutions today.
94.4
04
European battery cell gigafactory
Verkor, founded in 2020 in Grenoble, France, makes lithium-ion battery cells at its Dunkirk gigafactory, which was inaugurated in late 2025, with Renault Group as a major partner and backing from EQT Ventures, Bpifrance and Macquarie.
PROS- Gigafactory already producing
- Anchor carmaker partner
CONS- Conventional lithium-ion chemistry
- Faces strong Asian competition
- Best for
- European carmakers wanting locally made cells
- Where it falls short
- It uses conventional lithium-ion chemistry and faces strong Asian competition.
- Pick something else if
- you need advanced battery technology or want to avoid Asian competitors.
93.1
05
Passive sodium-ion grid storage
Peak Energy, founded in 2023, makes fully passive sodium-ion energy storage systems for utilities, power producers and AI data centres, and plans a factory in Sacramento. It announced an oversubscribed $108 million Series B on October 21, 2026.
PROS- No active cooling needed
- Large contracted volumes for its age
CONS- US factory not yet producing
- Very young company
- Best for
- Utilities and power producers adding grid storage
- Where it falls short
- Its US factory is not yet producing.
- Pick something else if
- you need immediate production capacity.
91.8
06
Ultra-fast-charging batteries for robots and data centres
Nyobolt, founded in 2019 in Cambridge, UK, makes ultra-fast-charging lithium-ion batteries using a niobium-based anode, used in warehouse robots, humanoids and AI data centres. In May 2026 it raised a $60 million Series C at a $1 billion valuation, led by Symbotic.
PROS- Charges in minutes
- Named robotics customers
CONS- Lower energy density than standard cells
- Niche, high-power applications
- Best for
- Robot makers and data centres needing very fast charging
- Where it falls short
- It has lower energy density than standard cells.
- Pick something else if
- you need higher energy density.
90.5
07
Nickel-hydrogen batteries for grid storage
EnerVenue, founded in 2020 in Fremont, California, makes nickel-hydrogen batteries for stationary storage, based on a chemistry long used in spacecraft and designed for tens of thousands of cycles.
PROS- Very long cycle life
- Wide operating temperature range
CONS- Lower energy density than lithium-ion
- Production still scaling
- Best for
- Utilities and industrial sites wanting long-life storage
- Where it falls short
- It has lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries.
- Pick something else if
- you need high energy density.
89.2
08
Home batteries bundled with electricity plans
Base Power, founded in 2023 in Austin, Texas, installs home battery systems paired with a fixed-rate electricity plan, giving homes backup power and using the batteries to support the grid. It raised a $1 billion Series C in October 2025.
PROS- Battery and power plan in one package
- Fast customer growth
CONS- Only available in two states
- Battery stays owned by Base
- Best for
- Homeowners in Texas and Illinois wanting backup power
- Where it falls short
- Base Power only operates in two states, limiting availability for most homeowners.
- Pick something else if
- you live outside Texas or Illinois.
87.9
09
Non-flammable sodium-ion batteries
Alsym Energy, founded in 2015 in Massachusetts, makes non-flammable sodium-ion batteries for grid storage, data centres and industry. In June 2026 it partnered with Re:Build Manufacturing to scale US cell production.
PROS- No thermal runaway risk
- Avoids lithium and cobalt
CONS- Lower energy density than lithium-ion
- Manufacturing scale-up still ahead
- Best for
- Storage projects where fire safety is a priority
- Where it falls short
- It has lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries.
86.6
10
XNO niobium anode for fast, long-life batteries
Echion Technologies, founded in 2017 near Cambridge, UK, makes XNO, a niobium-based anode material for lithium-ion batteries that charge fast, last long and resist overheating, used in applications such as mining trucks.
PROS- Fast charging with long cycle life
- Works with standard electrode processes
CONS- Material supplier, not a cell maker
- Niche heavy-duty markets
- Best for
- Heavy vehicle and industrial battery makers
- Where it falls short
- It is a material supplier rather than a cell maker, limiting direct battery procurement.
- Pick something else if
- you need a complete battery cell manufacturer.
85.3
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Battery Startups?
Form Energy ranks first on Lister. Form Energy, founded in 2017 in Somerville, Massachusetts, makes iron-air batteries that store electricity for up to 100 hours, built at its Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia. In August 2026 it raised a $750 million Series G led by T. Rowe Price, taking total equity raised to over $2 billion.
What are the top 10 Battery Startups?
1. Form Energy; 2. Group14 Technologies; 3. Lyten; 4. Verkor; 5. Peak Energy; 6. Nyobolt; 7. EnerVenue; 8. Base Power; 9. Alsym Energy; 10. Echion Technologies.
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