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On June 2-3, Battery College 2026 brought together battery industry professionals, technical experts, guest presenters, and participants in Stockholm for two days dedicated to knowledge sharing, practical demonstrations, and real industry challenges.
Created as a platform for technical learning and professional exchange, Battery College once again highlighted the importance of connecting people across the battery value chain – from testing and diagnostics to safety, serviceability, second-life applications, and recycling.
Expert Insights from Across the Industry
This year’s program included presentations from experts representing Scania Industrial Batteries, EOBD, Stena Recycling Norge, the University of Sarajevo – Department of Chemistry, and DV Power.
Together, we shared valuable knowledge and practical experience on topics such as:
| Testing & Diagnostics: | Lifecycle & Recycling: |
| • SOC calibration | • Lifecycle of industrial batteries |
| • Thermal management | • Second-life applications: EV battery module replacement |
| • BMS testing | • Battery recycling |
| • Capacity and internal resistance testing | • Black mass analysis |
| • Battery diagnostics |
Takeaways from Battery College 2026
We’re bringing you some key takeaways from Battery College 2026 covering market trends, regulatory updates, maintenance practices, and end-of-life strategies.
Market & Standards
- Off-road electrification: The off-road sector is going electric, from forklifts and mobile cranes to work boats, excavators, and tractors. Beyond battery performance, OEMs face multiple challenges: market (im)maturity, integration complexity, and the time-intensive testing and validation needed for mass production.
- Battery Regulation update: The Commission has adopted the methodology, verification rules, and format for recycling efficiency and material recovery. Minimum efficiency targets are now in force, though no compliance data is public yet, so real-world impact remains to be seen.
- IEEE standard for stationary Li-ion: A new IEEE standard aims to harmonize maintenance practices. Capacity testing remains the core diagnostic, but Li-ion adds BMS verification and SOC calibration to the checklist.
Operation & Maintenance
- Periodic inspections: Trending over time, especially internal resistance, using a consistent IR method, is key to spotting degradation early.
- SOC calibration: The BMS estimates SOC rather than measuring it, and errors build up over time. Regular calibration keeps it accurate.
- Module replacement: Don’t rely solely on SOH-C readings from the BMS or diagnostic tools. A simple load test can reveal a very different picture.
- Charging isn’t one-size-fits-all: Profiles should match each battery’s chemistry and model.
- Safety first: Controlled charge/discharge protects people and infrastructure. Temperature sensors, IR cameras, and gas sensors help catch thermal runaway early.
Transport, Storage & End-of-Life
- Battery transport: Lithium cells and batteries must be discharged to 30% SoC before transport.
- Battery pre-recycling steps: The process starts with safe, compliant transportation, followed by an initial evaluation (visual inspection, damage assessment, thermal evaluation, and documentation checks), leading to classification into three categories: life extension (stable, suitable for secondary use), stable batteries intended for recycling, or critical (red) batteries.
- Lithium battery storage (PGS 37-2, Netherlands): A risk-based guideline for safe storage of lithium-ion batteries covering new, used, in-use, remanufactured, and discarded batteries, with requirements for fire resistance, ventilation, and charging conditions. Applicable to warehouses, recyclers, and any company stockpiling Li-ion batteries.
- Discharging before recycling: Safe discharge comes down to finding the right recipe (discharge current, end-voltage, and ambient temperature) that keeps battery temperature, rebound voltage, and discharge time within acceptable limits.
- Recycling high-risk batteries: A viable recycling path is still needed for batteries involved in car crashes and other high-risk scenarios.
- Black mass quality: The industry has yet to agree on what “good black mass” actually means.
Safe Discharge Solutions for Battery Recycling
The discussions at Battery College 2026 made one thing clear: safe and efficient battery recycling starts long before the recycling process itself.
Before batteries enter second-life use or recycling, controlled discharge, diagnosis, and pre-recycling preparation are essential for reducing risk, improving safety, and supporting efficient material recovery.
DV Power offers a range of safe battery discharge solutions for battery packs, modules, and cells — from discharge testers and rebound voltage management to containerized systems and full-scale EV end-of-life battery management solutions.
Every recycling facility has different requirements, which is why our solutions can be customized to your process, capacity, and battery types.
Thank you
Battery College 2026 once again showed the importance of practical knowledge, hands-on experience, and industry exchange in supporting safer and more reliable battery systems.
Thank you to all presenters, participants, and partners who contributed to making this event a success.
June 17, 2026
