Swatch, ORNL, BioSolar, University of Michigan.

Swatch update: The announced Super-battery is taking form. Serial production of the prototype is to commence in June – first for e-bikes, electric scooters and drones, followed by EVs in 2017. Swatch promises an 30 percent increase in capacity compared to the Gigafactory product. And it is said to charge faster.
handelszeitung.ch (in German)

Battery alliance: Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Solid Power have signed a licencing agreement for lithium-sulphur for battery packs of the next generation. He goal is to develop more energy-dense batteries for the rechargeable energy market.
eurekalert.org, ornl.gov

BioSolar update: The company says it concluded the first development stage of its allegedly revolutionary cathode technology (we reported). According to BioSolar, it could reduce the cost to less than 100 dollars per kWh. The next development stage will focus on the opimisation of production and preparation of demonstrators.
biosolar.com

Autonomous funding: The University of Michigan as received 2.7m dollars in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to test whether autonomous vehicles can help people drive more efficiently. Most cars used for the study will be electric or feature hybrid technology.
detroitnews.com