Rondo Energy has begun commercial operations of what it says is the world’s largest industrial heat battery – a 100 MWh system now operating at a Holmes Western Oil facility in California. Powered entirely by an onsite solar array, the system supplies constant high-pressure steam and heat to the plant, demonstrating how renewable energy can directly power heavy industry.

An industrial heat milestone

During the day, the off-grid solar array charges the Rondo Heat Battery, and the battery delivers stored heat 24/7. After 10 weeks of daily operation, Rondo says the system has met every performance target, achieving over 97% round-trip efficiency and operating at temperatures above 1,000 °C (1,832 °F). The 100 MWh unit provides the same volume of heat as 10,000 household heating systems.

“The Rondo Heat Battery is now proven at industrial scale,” said Rondo CEO Eric Trusiewicz. “We’re already developing and operating heat batteries across four continents and five industries. Our customers are improving their competitiveness and slashing their carbon emissions at the same time.”

The new system runs directly alongside gas-fired boilers, delivering steam through the same infrastructure without retrofits. By using onsite solar to replace natural gas, the project helps Holmes Western Oil hedge against energy price swings and reduce regulatory and carbon market exposure.

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Just bricks and wires

Industrial heat accounts for about 25% of global energy use, from cement kilns to chemical plants. Rondo’s heat battery technology offers a simple way to decarbonize that sector.

Unlike electric boilers or heat pumps that require constant power, Rondo, which is backed by Bill Gates-founded Breakthrough Energy Ventures and utility-backed Energy Impact Partners, says its system only needs the six cheapest hours of electricity each day, from off-grid solar or low-cost grid power, to fully charge.

“Just as electric vehicles opened up transport to renewable power, heat batteries will open up the industrial heat market,” said Andy Lubershane, partner at Energy Impact Partners. “It’s another global inflection point for solar and wind.”

The Rondo Heat Battery stores energy in simple materials – just brick and wire. That means no scarce minerals, fire risk, or toxic leaks. The system drops in beside existing boilers and can deliver steam at pressures above 100 bar (1,450+ psi). Because it produces zero emissions, it doesn’t need air permits, simplifying deployment.

Rondo has projects across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company says its technology can scale rapidly, thanks to its use of proven, readily available industrial components.

Read more: Your whiskey may soon be made with a huge ‘brick toaster’ battery

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Honda’s electric SUV was the third most popular EV in the US in August, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Offering over $12,000 in average incentives, the Honda Prologue scored big as buyers rushed to claim the federal EV tax credit.

Honda Prologue registrations surge with huge incentives

As the $7,500 credit expired at the end of September, automakers were offering pretty notable discounts, many in the five digits with combined incentives.

The Honda Prologue has been one of the most discounted EVs over the past few months. Last month, buyers could score up to over $20,000 in combined savings, including a $7,500 credit, $9,500 in financing bonuses, trade-in offers, and 0% interest for six years.

According to the latest registration data from S&P Global Mobility (via Automotive News), the incentives helped propel the Honda Prologue to become the third most popular EV in August.

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A total of 138,457 EVs were registered in the US in August, up 24% from a year ago. Honda Prologue registrations surged 81% to 9,005 vehicles, the data showed.

Honda’s electric SUV had more registrations than the Chevy Equinox EV in August, and it’s based on the same GM Ultium platform. However, the Equinox is still outselling the Prologue through September.

Since some automakers don’t report monthly or US sales numbers, the S&P Global Mobility data offers a snapshot of sales performance.

The Prologue was yet again one of the most discounted models, with incentives of $12,704 in August, according to Motor Intelligence. Last August, Prologue incentives were just $5,813. Honda’s gas-powered CR-V had just $2,016 in incentives in August.

Although the $7,500 credit expired on September 30, Honda is still offering generous incentives for Prologue buyers and lessees.

The 2025 Honda Prologue is available with up to $16,550 in lease cash in most states. Alternatively, Honda is offering 0% APR financing for up to 60 months.

Although the Acura ZDX will not return for a 2026 model year, Honda is planning to launch the 2026 Prologue. We have yet to learn prices, but we could see it priced slightly lower due to the loss of the $7,500 EV credit.

Hyundai announced earlier this month it’s reducing 2026 IONIQ 5 prices by up to nearly $10,000 on some trims. The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now starts at under $35,000. Will Honda match it?

Ready to check out the Prologue for yourself? You can use our link to find available Honda Prologue models near you (trusted affiliate link).

All-solid-state batteries may be the key to unlocking longer range, faster charging, and overall more efficient electric vehicles. After a series of breakthroughs, scientists in China overcame several hurdles that have been holding the new EV battery tech from hitting the market.

China is advancing all-solid-state EV batteries

Automakers, startups, battery makers, and plenty of other companies from around the globe are racing to introduce the next-generation of EV batteries.

Although they have shown promise in lab tests and even in smaller, niche markets, producing all-solid-state EV batteries at a mass scale has not been so easy.

All-solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte, used in current lithium-ion batteries, with a solid one. Some companies are already using solid-state batteries with a small amount of electrolyte.

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One of the biggest hurdles holding all-solid-state batteries back is finding the right electrolyte solution, one that offers superior conductivity and doesn’t crack or break.

Commonly used solid sulfide-based electrolytes are hard and fragile, which makes them difficult to bond and causes poor conductivity. And then of course, you have to source those materials and manufacture them on a mass scale, which is costly in itself.

In China, scientists, universities, and other researchers have teamed up to advance all-solid-state EV batteries in the country.

According to a report from China Central Television (CCTV) on October 16, scientists achieved three breakthroughs that could be key to unlocking the next-gen battery tech.

The first, “special glue,” or iodine ions, was developed by the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other researchers.

While the battery is running, the iodine ions serve as “traffic cops” following the electric field to the interface between the electrode and the electrolyte. They actively attract lithium ions, plugging the gaps and enabling a better bond.

The second breakthrough, “flexible transformation,” was achieved by the Institute of Metal Research and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Scientists created a “skeleton” for the electrolyte using polymer materials. According to the report, the new material can be “bent 20,000 times and twisted into a twist without breaking.” It also features small chemical components that accelerate lithium-ion movement, while others “grab” more lithium ions, which the report claims can increase battery storage capacity by 86%.

The third, “Fluoro Reinforcement,” was developed by Tsinghua University. Researchers used fluorinated polyether materials to create a “shield” on the electrolyte surface.

The technology reportedly passed needle penetration tests and was put in a test chamber with temperatures of over 120°C (248°F).

As CCTV claims, the breakthroughs could allow a 100 kg battery pack to deliver over 1,000 km (620 miles) of range.

Electrek’s Take

China is already dominating the global EV battery market, with CATL and BYD accounting for over half of sales. The new developments could help it stay one step ahead of the rest of the world.

SAIC MG already launched what it calls “the world’s first mass-produced semi-solid-state” EV, the new MG4, at the Chengdu Auto Show in August.

Then again, others are also quickly advancing the new battery tech. Mercedes-Benz announced it drove a modified EQS, equipped with solid-state batteries, for 1,205 km (750 miles) on a single charge just last month.

After securing a new partnership with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass produce cathode materials earlier this month, Toyota said it aims “to achieve the world’s first practical use of all-solid-state batteries in BEVs.” Toyota said it looks to launch its first all-solid-state battery-powered EV in 2027 or 2028.

CATL and BYD plan to introduce solid-state batteries around 2027, with mass production following around the end of the decade.

Source: CarNewsChina, CCTV