Early-stage battery development work is beginning to point toward faster charging options that could have future relevance for material handling and forklift operations.
According to updates from Graphene Manufacturing Group, its graphene aluminium-ion battery technology has demonstrated the ability to charge from empty to full in around six minutes under test conditions, while maintaining performance over hundreds of cycles.
The company says energy density has also improved in recent testing, with results showing an increase compared to previous figures.
For operators, the relevance at this stage sits around potential rather than immediate application. Charging time remains a key factor in electric material handling, influencing how equipment is scheduled across shifts and how battery systems are managed on site.
“With the possibility of charging from empty to full in around six minutes, this chemistry fundamentally changes how designers can think about electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and stationary storage,” says Bob Galyen, non-executive director and former chief technology officer of CATL.
“Instead of planning around long charge stops with large packs, engineers can optimise for rapid energy turnaround, with higher power, and safer, with GMG’s battery made from abundant raw materials.”
The technology is being developed with heavy mobile equipment as a target use case, although it remains at battery technology readiness level four, with further testing required to confirm cycle life, temperature performance and safety.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, which are not designed for continuous ultra-fast charging, the graphene aluminium-ion approach is being tested for high-rate charging performance over repeated cycles.
“Lithium-ion will remain a key part of the energy landscape for years to come, but its limitations in fast charging, temperature tolerance, and critical-mineral supply are increasingly evident,” Galyen says.
“By leveraging aluminium and graphene, the GMG team is demonstrating a pathway to reduce reliance on traditional lithium-based systems… while delivering step-change improvements in charge time and power density.”
The battery does not use lithium or copper in its construction, instead using aluminium as the base material, which the company says offers cost and weight advantages.
Chief executive Craig Nicol says the latest results mark progress in development.
“This is a significant step up from where we were at with battery performance in December 2025 and we see the required performance for our targeted use case being largely met – which means we can start to put together the next stages of the battery maturation program – including partnerships and manufacturing plans.”
The company is targeting customer testing in 2026, with early-stage commercial production expected from 2027.
For now, the work remains in the development phase, but it highlights the ongoing focus on reducing charging times and improving performance in battery-powered equipment.