Serbian deep tech scaleup ElevenEs is the first company in Europe to develop a lithium-ion giga factory based on LFP blade-type cells. Addressing the growing demand for reliable and affordable battery solutions, ElevenEs offers a cobalt- and nickel-free answer that can power cars, buses, trucks, equipment, home storage systems, and Europe’s green ambitions at large. 

We recently caught up with Marton Pap, Sales Director at ElvenEs, for a chat about the company’s roots, their unique solution, as well as the successes and challenges of ElevenEs’ journey so far. Marton also touched on ElevenEs’ experience in the EIC Scaling Club – they’re a member of the Batteries & Energy Storage market group. 

Pioneering LFP blade-cell technology in Europe

In layman’s terms, LFP (Lithium iron phosphate) is a type of chemistry within lithium-ion batteries, explains Marton. While it’s a mature technology in China, Europe has been focused on more traditional options such as Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries. 

However, LFP blade-type cells confer a variety of advantages that align with broader European sustainability goals, from using more sustainable raw materials to offering increased product lifespan – benefits that are growing increasingly difficult to ignore. This, in turn, offers a clear path forward for ElevenEs, which they’re ready to take advantage of, says Marton.

“The mission of the company is to deliver the latest generation of LFP cells to the European and North American markets.”

ElevenEs’ gigafactory is the first of its kind in Europe, and Marton names Serbia as the perfect location for it, highlighting access to green energy and pointing to a growing battery production hub that spans Eastern Europe, centered around Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and Serbia.  

The technology is developed entirely in-house and ElevenEs is undergoing phased giga-scaling – taking growth in measured steps to fully understand the process and maintain full control. Part of what makes this possible is that ElevenEs is a brownfield spinoff from the parent company Al Pack Group – a leader in aluminum packaging.

Heritage driving innovation 

Marton hesitates to label ElevenEs a startup – its heritage provides ElevenEs with a strong industrial manufacturing DNA. He explains:

“Al Pack has been around for more than 30 years. It's a leader in aluminum packaging in Europe, and they know what it takes to have scaled production – high volumes, 24/7 shift operation, robust supply chains. For us, that’s incredibly important experience and support we can tap into.”

The company's founder and CEO, Nemanja Mikać, from the second generation of the Al Pack family, recognized the similarities between aluminum packaging manufacturing and electrode production, leading to the establishment of ElevenEs.

The company boasts a global team of about 115 people, comprising about 15 different nationalities, mainly from Europe and Asia, with a strong presence of Chinese colleagues given China's leadership in LFP technology. This diverse expertise, combined with their in-house R&D, allows ElevenEs to develop their technology independently, without relying on external licenses.

Scaling milestones and industrial challenges

ElevenEs has achieved significant milestones on its journey. A major accomplishment was the launch of their industrial pilot plant in 2023, the first in Europe to make LFP blade-type cells. They began sending samples in 2024, developing two types of cells: one for automotive/commercial vehicles and another for stationary storage. Recently, in spring, they launched a third product for the automotive industry that allows for very high charging rates, enabling a battery charge in less than 15 minutes, which can prove to be a gamechanger for the EV market. 

While the successes are plentiful, so are the challenges – making batteries is inherently difficult. Marton cites everything from technology and attracting talent to sales and investment as things ElevenEs is actively working on. 

“It’s a vicious cycle – you need large customers to fund gigafactories. But, at the same time, you need to convince large vehicle manufacturers not only of the technology, but also of your reliability as a supplier. For that, you need a gigafactory.” 

ElevenEs’ approach is one of transparency – showcasing their expertise and solid scale-up plan, inviting investors to visit their facility. 

EIC Scaling Club participation and future outlook

As a member of the EIC Scaling Club, ElevenEs views it as a valuable opportunity for networking, exchanging insights with industry peers, and accessing mentoring opportunities. They also hope the membership will help them attract further investors. Marton Pap shares their perspective:

“We are glad to be part of this community. We are looking to use it for networking, to exchange with industry peers, especially in our field – the European energy storage space.”

Looking ahead, ElevenEs has ambitious plans for expansion. They will soon begin constructing a factory with a 1 GWh capacity, which they term a "megafactory," expected to be ready for production by the end of 2026. This will be followed by "Giga one" around 2028, with an 8 GWh capacity, all at the same location in Subotica, Serbia. Further plans include "Giga two" and "Giga three" in the US, each with 20 GWh capacity.

About the EIC Scaling Club

The EIC Scaling Club is a curated community where 120+ European deep tech scale-ups with the potential to build world-class businesses and solve major global challenges come together with investors, corporate innovators and other industry stakeholders to spur growth.

The top 120+ European deep tech companies will be carefully selected from a pool of high-growth scale-ups that have benefitted from EIC financial schemes, other European and national innovation programmes, and beyond.

The EIC Scaling Club is an EIC-funded initiative run in partnership by Tech Tour, Bpifrance (EuroQuity), Hello Tomorrow, Tech.eu (Webrazzi), EurA and IESE Business School.

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