TALISSMAN, the project that seeks to develop safer, more sustainable, and high-performance lithium-sulphur batteries for the future of electric mobility.

• Nine leading organisations from four European countries join forces to deliver the next generation of energy storage solutions for electric vehicles, aerospace, and heavy transport

• Receiving €4.9 million in funding under the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, TALISSMAN will advance key technologies to unlock industrial-scale lithium-sulphur battery manufacturing

10^th July 2025, San Sebastian (Spain) — The TALISSMAN project officially starts with the ambitious goal of transforming the future of electric mobility through safer, more sustainable, and high-performing lithium-sulphur battery (LSB) technologies. Coordinated by CIDETEC Energy Storage, the consortium brings together nine partners from four countries (Spain, France, Germany, and Italy), representing a diverse blend of research institutes, technology developers, and industry leaders.

At its core, TALISSMAN (Technologies for Advanced Lithium-Sulfur batteries toward Safe and Sustainable Mobility Applications) aims to overcome the performance, safety, and manufacturing barriers of current battery systems. Lithium-sulphur technology holds enormous promise due to its higher energy density and reliance on abundant, low-cost materials such as sulphur. However, technical challenges like limited cycle life, instability, and manufacturing hurdles have slowed its commercialisation. TALISSMAN is designed to tackle these issues head-on, providing solutions critical for Europe’s transition to cleaner, more efficient mobility systems.

Impacts, methodology, and objectives

TALISSMAN will focus on the following  main impact areas:

• Technical performance: targeting energy densities up to 550 watt-hours per kilogram and cycle lives up to 700 full cycles.
• Safety: achieving enhanced stability with non-flammable, quasi-solid and solid electrolytes.
• Cost-effectiveness: reducing manufacturing costs to below €75 per kilowatt-hour by 2030.
• Sustainability: minimising environmental footprint across the battery lifecycle through eco-design, responsible sourcing, and end-of-life recyclability.

The project will integrate novel 3D lithium-metal anodes, advanced carbon-sulphur cathodes, and next-generation electrolytes to create two distinct battery concepts (Gen2027 and Gen2030). Pilot-scale validation will demonstrate the manufacturability and scalability of these systems, fully compatible with existing lithium-ion production lines.

Throughout its development, TALISSMAN will apply a Safe and Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework, ensuring that environmental performance, recyclability, and resource efficiency are built into every stage of the innovation process.

Making a difference for Europe’s citizens

By delivering lighter, safer, and more affordable next-generation batteries, TALISSMAN will help make electric vehicles, aircraft, and heavy transport cleaner and more accessible across Europe. This means longer driving ranges, quicker charging times, lower energy costs, and a reduced environmental footprint, supporting greener cities, healthier communities, and boosting Europe’s leadership in clean technologies.