Structural battery composites – a technology that integrates energy storage directly into load-bearing materials – are presented as one of the world's most promising future technologies of 2025 at the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, held in China from June 24-26. The technology is developed by researchers at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science at Chalmers University of Technology.
In 2013, the World Economic Forum (WEF) launched the Top 10 Emerging Technologies report series, highlighting innovations expected to have a significant positive impact on society and the environment within three to five years. The report is developed in collaboration with leading researchers and experts and is part of the forum's mission to promote global cooperation and innovation for a better future. This year's edition is the seventh in the series.
Link to this year's report.
"The recognition of our research by the World Economic Forum shows that structural batteries have the potential to change how we design and manufacture future products", says Leif Asp, professor at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science.
Energy stored in load-bearing materials
Structural batteries make it possible to store energy in the very material that supports a structure – for example, in aircraft fuselages, vehicle frames, or electronic products. This eliminates the need for separate battery packs and wiring, reducing weight, saving space, and increasing energy efficiency.
In an ongoing study, researchers have shown that the multifunctional performance can be doubled. The structural battery composites exhibit an energy density of over 60 Wh/kg and an elastic modulus of over 100 GPa. This means that the material has about half the energy capacity of a conventional lithium-ion battery with the same chemistry and is half as stiff as steel – but it can both carry loads and store energy.
"By integrating energy storage into structural materials, we not only reduce emissions, but we also redefine how products are designed from the ground up", says Leif Asp.
Inspiration from biological systems
The technology is inspired by biological systems where energy is stored and distributed efficiently. At the same time, innovations such as carbon fiber electrodes reduce dependence on critical raw materials, supporting a more sustainable and circular economy.
"This can open up entirely new design possibilities for electric vehicles and portable electronics, where weight reduction and efficiency are crucial. We are also investigating how these multifunctional materials behave in real-world conditions – for example, how mechanical stress affects battery performance, and how energy use can impact the structural properties", says Johanna Xu, assistant professor at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science.
Chalmers launches new competence center
Introducing structural battery composites marks an important step towards multifunctional and resource-efficient systems that will drive the next generation of sustainable design.
At the same time, Chalmers is launching the MAXBATT Competence Center, where universities in western Sweden are joining forces with the Västra Götaland region to secure the future of battery production in Sweden. The center will focus on scaling up the technology and ensuring a qualified workforce for future battery factories.
As the use of renewable energy increases, structural batteries offer a compelling solution to the challenges of energy storage. The technology improves performance while promoting responsible material use – a key factor in achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, a central goal of the Net Zero Industry initiative.
"The paradigm shift that structural batteries represent is fully in line with the goals of the Net Zero Industry Impact Programme, which aims to radically improve resource efficiency and resilience in Swedish manufacturing", says Björn Johansson, professor at the Department of Industrial and Materials Science and director of the competence center.
More about the research
World’s strongest battery paves way for light, energy-efficient vehicles
Watch a video on structural batteries
Recent publications
Electro-chemo-mechanical modelling of structural battery composite full cells
Larsson et al.
Introducing the first coupled electro-chemo-mechancal computational model of a structural battery composite full cell.
High-energy cathode in carbon fibre structural battery
Chaudhary et al.
Introducing an all-carbon fibre structural battery composite full cell with a NMC coated carbon fibre positive electrode.
Contact information
- Full Professor, Material and Computational Mechanics, Industrial and Materials Science
- Assistant Professor, Material and Computational Mechanics, Industrial and Materials Science
- Full Professor, Production Systems, Industrial and Materials Science