Colorado-based startup Mana Battery has entered into a strategic partnership with Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, to accelerate the commercialization of its proprietary electrolyte platform and anode-free sodium-ion battery technology. Following a technical evaluation that commenced in 2025, the two companies will collaborate on the development, validation, and testing of these advanced cells. This partnership aims to deliver high-performance energy storage solutions tailored for demanding sectors, including defense, aerospace, rail, and industrial data centers, where the ability to maintain a charge under extreme temperatures is critical for long-term standby operations.
The collaboration leverages Mana Battery’s innovative electrolyte technology alongside Saft’s established expertise in cell design, manufacturing, and qualification. By utilizing an anode-free design, the cells are assembled without traditional anode active materials, a process intended to enhance energy density while simultaneously reducing overall production costs. According to Saft’s chief technology and innovation officer, Kamen Nechev, the anode-free approach represents a significant frontier for sodium-ion chemistry, offering a viable path to meet the rigorous requirements of heavy infrastructure and industrial uninterruptible power supply customers.
Mana Battery, a 2023 spin-out from the University of Colorado Boulder, views this agreement as a vital step in transitioning its technology from laboratory research to practical field applications. CEO Tyler Evans noted that the partnership confirms the maturity of the company’s platform and highlights the safety and supply-chain benefits of their sodium-ion approach. Beyond this technical cooperation, Mana Battery is actively advocating for increased policy support for domestic production. As a founding member of the American Battery Leadership Coalition, the startup is working alongside industry peers to establish sodium-ion battery manufacturing as a national priority within the United States.