Competitive Intelligence · Updated March 2026

Tesla proved dry electrodes work.
Here's what you can actually deploy.

Six vendors. Radically different tech approaches, timelines, and availability. We mapped them all so you don't have to start from scratch in due diligence.

Dry electrode technology: vendor-by-vendor

Based on published data, investor updates, and patent filings through Q1 2026. Targets VP Manufacturing and VP Engineering evaluating dry electrode adoption.

Vendor Tech Approach Production Stage Chemistry Flexibility Availability
Tesla / Maxwell
PTFE fibrillization
Dry powder mixing → PTFE fibrillization → film lamination to current collector Mass production (Q4 2025) Limited — PTFE binder-constrained; anode proven first, cathode solved late NOT available — proprietary
LiCAP Technologies
Solvent-free pressing (ADE)
Activated Dry Electrode pressing — dense conductive films, no solvents Pilot → production (2026) Good — works with NMC, LFP, sodium-ion, solid-state License only — 2–3 year adoption cycle (Nissan 2028, Cellforce 2026)
AM Batteries
Electrostatic spray deposition
Electrostatically charged active materials sprayed onto foil — no solvents Early pilot (first samples Oct 2024) Moderate — electrostatic tuning is chemistry-dependent; high scrap (30–50%) Equipment sales — targeting 2026 production. Not yet there.
Anaphite
DCP precursor powders
Pre-engineered composite powders (DCP®) optimized for dry coating Early pilot — NMC proven, LFP in dev Chemistry-specific — each chemistry requires its own DCP formulation Materials supplier only — not a hardware provider
PNT (Korean)
Roll-to-roll adapted
Legacy roll-to-roll equipment adapted for dry coating; LFP cell production pivot Pilot → production (0.2 GWh LFP 2026) Legacy roll-to-roll constraints; primarily LFP-focused Equipment sales — Asia-first. Weaker NA/EU positioning.
Sakuu (Kavian)
3D printing / additive mfg
Additive manufacturing — layer-by-layer electrode deposition; software-controlled parameters Production validated — hundreds of meters shipped 2025 Any chemistry, same line — switch NMC↔LFP↔sodium-ion in software. Supercapacitors too. Order now → deliver 6–12 months
Why Kavian wins

Three things no other vendor offers

Not positioning. Validated production facts.

🔄

Switch chemistries mid-run

NMC on Monday, LFP on Tuesday. No line shutdowns, no retooling, no separate lines. Chemistry parameters are software — density, layer thickness, porosity — all changed in firmware.

vs. competitors: Every other vendor requires separate lines or multi-week changeovers.

Battery + supercapacitor on one line

AI data centers need power buffering. Supercapacitors are a $200M+ addressable market. Kavian validated supercapacitor output in October 2025 — on the same line as battery electrodes.

vs. competitors: Tesla, LiCAP, AM Batteries, and PNT produce battery electrodes only.

Production-ready now

Hundreds of meters shipped in 2025. Scrap rate validated at under 5%. OEM customers in active qualification. You're not waiting for 2028 — you can order in Q2 2026.

vs. competitors: LiCAP 2028. AM Batteries 2026+. Anaphite: no commercial production yet.

Where each vendor actually stands

Straight read from production data and public disclosures.

Production Now — Hardware exists, orders ship
Tesla / Maxwell — Mass production, but captive (Tesla only). Not available to OEMs.
Sakuu (Kavian) — Hundreds of meters shipped. Order now → deliver 6–12 mo.
Pilot → Production (2026–2027) — Proven at scale, but adoption is slow
LiCAP Technologies — 500m continuous cathode; licensing cycle takes 2–3 years
PNT (Korean) — 0.2 GWh LFP line launching 2026; Asia-focused
AM Batteries — First samples Oct 2024; targeting "full production 2026" (likely optimistic)
Early Pilot — Not ready for commercial orders
Anaphite — NMC DCP validated; LFP still in development as of Dec 2025

Run the numbers for your facility.

Model the ROI of switching from wet to dry at your production volume — floor space, energy, solvents, capital. Kavian vs. your current line.

Open ROI Calculator
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