Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cell manufacturer American Battery Factory (ABF) has formed a partnership with Chinese manufacturer KAN Battery to develop a pilot line of battery cells at its facility and accelerate its US production launch.
As part of the collaboration, ABF will secure training in the latest analytics and machining for its workforce, refine battery cell production and launch its subsidiary ABF China.
At the facility in China, ABF will work alongside KAN Battery to run an initial 1 GWh factory line to produce high-capacity prismatic cells offering 105 to 300 Ah outputs. The 750,000-square-foot line will enable the company to immediately start production at scale. ABF will supply select battery cells produced at the factory to off-takers such as Lion Energy ahead of its full US cell production.
By refining the production process while it prepares for the construction of its first gigafactory in Tucson, Arizona, ABF will bring together its experience in machining, battery chemistry and business analytics at launch.
The company expects to complete the first phase of the Tuscon plant in the second half of 2026. The site will include the company’s headquarters, an R&D innovation center and the initial 2 x 2 GWh factory module. ABF’s battery cells are designed to last up to 10,000 life cycles or an average of 20-30 years.
“The United States is 10 years behind the leaders of battery cell production. To develop a domestic supply chain, we must work together with the best in the world,” said John Kem, President of American Battery Factory. “Working with KAN Battery gives us an opportunity to bring expertise back to the US and train US workers with the best manufacturing and chemistry innovation available to date. This will help bring our line of lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells to our US gigafactory for full-scale production.”
Source: American Battery Factory
