Behold the Dutch deep-tech battery ecosystem

For a country with no particular industrial legacy in batteries, the Netherlands has a remarkably high number of battery companies. Many use existing technology to create (smart) energy systems for selected applications. Eleo from Helmond, for example, assembles modular battery packs for electric construction and agricultural equipment such as diggers and tractors. Big Ass Battery, also from Helmond, offers large-scale energy-storage systems that can stand in for diesel generators or make money by taking advantage of fluctuating electricity prices.

But there’s plenty of companies working on improving battery technology itself. Some of these deep-tech startups stick with the good old lithium-ion battery, looking to boost its energy density and other specs. Others tout different battery designs, addressing its shortcomings in certain applications. And yet others re-imagine the concept of batteries: do batteries really need to store electrons? Why not store heat or produce hydrogen?