Solid Progress in Solid-State Batteries

Ion Storage Systems launches a pilot line in Maryland to scale solid-state battery tech safely and domestically.

2 Apr 2025

The race to build the next generation of batteries is heating up, and a Maryland startup just stepped onto the track with a homegrown contender.

Ion Storage Systems has opened a pilot plant in Beltsville to produce solid-state batteries that promise greater safety, reliability, and independence from global supply chain risks.

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which rely on flammable liquid electrolytes, Ion’s design uses a solid ceramic material. This makes the batteries more stable and energy-dense. It also eliminates the need for rare materials and removes the complex systems required to prevent overheating and fires.

The facility will begin with an annual output of 1 megawatt-hour. Ion plans to scale up to 500 megawatt-hours by 2028. While this is a small fraction of what major battery producers deliver, the startup believes its streamlined and scalable approach can level the playing field.

“We’re showing the industry that next-gen batteries can be built here, with scalable processes and top-tier safety,” said CEO Ricky Hanna. “It’s not just about performance anymore. It’s about being practical and reliable.”

Supported by the Department of Energy and ARPA-E, Ion’s pilot line is part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic energy manufacturing. With national security and clean energy goals increasingly intertwined, battery production is becoming a strategic priority.

Solid-state batteries have long been seen as a safer and more efficient successor to current lithium-ion technology. Yet efforts to commercialize them have stumbled over cost and complexity.

Ion’s approach avoids many of those obstacles. By skipping rare metals and eliminating high-pressure containment systems, the company has designed a battery that may be easier to manufacture at scale.

There are still hurdles to clear. Scaling production, competing with global giants, and proving long-term durability remain tall orders. But with its pilot line now online, Ion has taken a decisive step from theory to practice. The battery of the future may finally be within reach.