TaiSan

What TaiSan does

TaiSan is a UK-based battery materials startup founded in 2022 by Sanzhar Taizhan (a former Jaguar Land Rover battery engineer) and headquartered in London, with R&D operations at the Cambridge Battery Lab. The company develops quasi-solid-state sodium battery technology built around a proprietary polymer electrolyte and proprietary anode materials, marketed as a 100% drop-in solution compatible with existing lithium-ion giga-factories. Its claimed technical differentiators include non-flammable fire-retardant chemistry, dendrite suppression for longer cycle life, high ionic conductivity for fast charging, and energy density comparable to automotive lithium-ion, while targeting a 20% cost reduction versus LFP at GWh scale.

The business model is built on B2B technology licensing and proprietary battery materials supply, targeting Tier 1 automotive OEMs and battery cell manufacturers globally. TaiSan engages customers through enterprise field sales and signed MOUs, with over 10 MOUs reported across automotive, micromobility, and stationary storage customers in 7 countries. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and contracts are negotiated directly with OEMs during product testing and qualification phases.

The company has secured approximately £2.8 million in cumulative funding comprising roughly £500,000 in prior UK government and research grants (Department for Transport, The Faraday Institution, Innovate UK, Royal Academy of Engineering, Catapult Connected Places), a £1.3 million pre-seed equity round in July 2024 led by EIT InnoEnergy and TSP Ventures, and a £1 million DRIVE35 programme grant in April 2026 for automated cell production with CPI. It is pre-revenue, operates with 1–10 employees, and has no disclosed parent company, controlling entity, or subsidiary structure.

Name

TaiSan

Legal name

TaiSan Motors Ltd.

Website

https://taisan.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TaiSan is a UK-based battery materials startup developing proprietary quasi-solid-state sodium battery technology as a drop-in replacement for lithium-ion, targeting automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, micromobility, and stationary storage customers via licensing and materials supply.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battery Materials

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anode Materials Manufacturing (Graphite, Silicon, LTO) (EUAFABAC), Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Cell Manufacturing (EV) (IMACACAB), Battery & Energy Storage High-Purity Chemicals (Electrolyte salts/solvents, additives) (IMAEAKAM)

Keywords

• Sodium battery technology
• Polymer electrolyte materials
• Battery materials licensing
• Energy storage solutions
• Electric vehicle batteries

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: Company aims to license its proprietary material design and process steps to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs worldwide
2. Battery Materials Sales: Sale of proprietary electrolyte and anode materials to battery manufacturers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TaiSan develops and commercializes proprietary quasi-solid-state sodium battery technology comprising a novel polymer electrolyte and advanced anode materials, designed as a 100% drop-in solution compatible with existing lithium-ion battery giga-factories. The company licenses its material design and process steps, and supplies electrolyte and anode materials, to Tier 1 battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs for electric vehicle, micromobility, and stationary energy storage applications.

Product overview

TaiSan is a single-product company focused on developing and commercializing quasi-solid-state sodium battery technology for electric vehicles. The core offering consists of proprietary polymer electrolyte and anode materials (Gen 1.0 product) designed as a drop-in replacement for existing lithium-ion manufacturing facilities, targeting 20% cost savings while maintaining comparable energy density and improved safety characteristics including non-flammability and dendrite reduction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TaiSan Quasi-Solid-State Sodium Battery Technology A proprietary polymer electrolyte and anode materials technology platform for sodium batteries designed for electric vehicles and energy storage, offering comparable energy density to lithium-ion with targeted 20% cost reduction and improved safety features including non-flammability and dendrite reduction. Sold to Tier 1 automotive OEMs and battery cell manufacturers as a drop-in solution for existing lithium-ion manufacturing facilities.
• TaiSan Gen 1.0 Battery Product First generation quasi-solid-state sodium battery cells with volumetric and gravimetric energy density comparable to automotive lithium-ion batteries, using sustainable materials with no lithium, nickel, cobalt, or copper metals, designed as a drop-in replacement for existing lithium-ion manufacturing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% cost saving at GWh-level compared to LFP batteries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPI (Centre for Process Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Strategic partnership for £1 million DRIVE35 programme project focused on automating electrolyte formulation and battery cell production. CPI brings process innovation and automation expertise to tackle key bottlenecks in electrolyte and cell production.
• Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner providing access to Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) grants and AAG feasibility sprints. Partnership supported by Department for Business and Trade for next-generation battery manufacturing.
• Royal Academy of EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFellowship programme partner supporting founder's professional development in battery technology and engineering.
• Impulse (Cambridge University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge University entrepreneurship programme partner. TaiSan founder is an Impulse alumnus leading the battery revolution through the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.
• Catapult Connected PlacesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK innovation accelerator partner providing support for connected and sustainable mobility technology development.
• Automotive OEMs (7 countries)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerSigned multiple MOUs with automotive manufacturers from 7 different countries for quasi-solid-state sodium battery supply and testing. Customers include enterprises in micromobility, automotive and stationary storage sectors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Faradion: UK-based sodium-ion battery technology company developing proprietary cell IP for automotive and stationary storage. Directly comparable as a UK-headquartered sodium-ion startup targeting similar OEMs and licensing its chemistry.
• Altris: Sweden-based sodium-ion battery company specialising in Prussian blue cathode materials and full-cell development for automotive and grid storage. Closely comparable chemistry focus and target customers to TaiSan.
• AMTE Power: UK-based battery cell developer with sodium-ion product lines targeting automotive and energy storage markets. Comparable as a UK-listed sodium-ion peer developing cells for similar OEM and stationary use cases.
• Natron Energy: US-based developer of sodium-ion batteries using Prussian blue electrode chemistry for data center, EV and industrial applications. Directly comparable as a sodium-ion-focused cell company targeting similar enterprise segments.
• HiNa Battery Technology: Chinese sodium-ion battery company backed by LiCAT and commercialising cells for EVs and stationary storage. Comparable as a sodium-ion cell developer with similar target applications and chemistry positioning.

Broad incumbents

• CATL: World's largest battery manufacturer and an early entrant into sodium-ion for mass-market EVs. Overlaps with TaiSan on sodium-ion chemistry but operates at vastly greater scale across the full Li-ion portfolio.
• BYD: Chinese EV and battery giant with sodium-ion cells entering its vehicle lineup. Comparable as a broad incumbent with deep automotive OEM relationships that TaiSan is targeting for licensing.

Emerging players

• QuantumScape: US-listed developer of solid-state lithium-metal batteries for automotive use, partnered with Volkswagen. Partial overlap on solid/quasi-solid-state cell technology and automotive OEM focus.
• Solid Power: US-based solid-state battery developer with BMW and Ford partnerships, focused on sulfide-based all-solid-state cells. Comparable as a solid-state chemistry peer pursuing automotive licensing.

Regional players

• Ilika Technologies: UK-based solid-state battery developer targeting medical, industrial and EV applications with its Stereax and Goliath product lines. UK regional comparable on solid-state technology and enterprise licensing model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taisan-energy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors13 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TaiSan