B2B News | Stark Future has entered a strategic partnership with Wanxiang A123 to industrialise the 26120 cylindrical battery cell for next-generation electric motorcycles. Purpose-designed for two-wheel performance, the 26120 format delivers major gains in energy density, charging speed, and thermal performance compared with car-derived cell architectures.
Motorcycle-first cell architecture
Unlike widely used 21700 cells adapted from automotive applications, the 26120 format exploits motorcycle chassis width to improve volumetric efficiency while reducing module complexity. The result is lower pack mass, fewer interconnects, and cleaner thermal pathways.
An aluminium cell enclosure further enhances heat transfer while reducing weight, enabling sustained high-load operation across off-road and street use cases. Target performance includes approximately 330 Wh/kg energy density and 10–15 minute ultra-fast charging, establishing a new benchmark for premium electric two-wheelers.
Dr. Jack Li, General Manager, Wanxiang A123: “A123 has always focused on high-power lithium-ion battery technologies. The development of the 26120 cell demonstrates the depth of our long-term technical capabilities and our commitment to pioneering new formats for emerging mobility segments.”
From development to series supply
Initial development of the 26120 cell began in collaboration with EVE Energy, whose early programs validated the motorcycle-specific format and accelerated laboratory and field testing.
In line with Stark Future’s multi-sourcing strategy to enhance resilience, scalability, and innovation, Wanxiang A123 has now been selected as a series-supply partner for the 26120 platform. This diversified supply model ensures performance continuity for riders while enabling rapid industrialisation across future products and regions.
A123 high-power technology
A123’s proprietary high-power powder technology is engineered for high-rate discharge, rapid charge acceptance, and inherent thermal stability, critical for repeated hard acceleration, aggressive regenerative braking, and sustained peak loads.
The low-impedance cylindrical architecture optimises the jelly-roll, tabs, and current collectors to minimise internal resistance and heat generation at high C-rates. The aluminium can acts as an effective heat spreader, simplifying pack-level cooling and maintaining consistent output during long motos or repeated heats.
Anton Wass, CEO and Founder, Stark Future: “Motorcycles deserve their own battery architecture, not hand-me-downs from the car industry. With 26120, we unlock higher capacity, reduce weight, and dramatically improve charge time. It’s a step-change for electric motorcycle performance.”
Integrated safety features include robust separators, controlled venting, and pack-level BMS logic, including cut-out, fault isolation, and cell monitoring, tailored for motorsport environments. This enables rapid post-event discharge and careful investigation, while supporting long cycle life under partial-charge operation and demanding real-world conditions such as vibration, shock, and wide temperature variation.
Global scale and proven innovation
With more than 20 years of lithium-ion innovation and 700+ core patents (including over 500 invention patents), Wanxiang A123 supplies leading OEMs worldwide. Its global footprint, spanning three R&D bases and five laboratories across China, the United States, and Europe, alongside approximately 80 GWh of production capacity, enables a “global R&D, local supply” model that moves efficiently from prototype to mass production.
A123’s high-power pedigree, including Formula 1 battery programs, underpins the 26120’s pulse-current capability, fast-charge durability, and wide-temperature resilience demanded by premium electric motorcycles.
Demand for large cylindrical cells in electric two-wheelers accelerated sharply in 2024, with shipments up approximately 150%, positioning the 26120 format as a timely platform for the next wave of high-performance electric motorcycles.
Looking ahead
With 26120 prototypes now undergoing validation at Stark Future’s Barcelona R&D centre, the company plans to integrate the format into future platforms, reinforcing its position at the forefront of high-performance electric motorcycle technology.
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