Boston-based Factorial Energy and Netherlands-based Tulip Tech move from flight testing into commercialization of lithium-metal UAV battery packs.
Factorial Energy Inc. (Nasdaq: FAC) announced July 13, 2026, a strategic partnership with Tulip Tech Group B.V. to accelerate commercial deployment of solid-state and lithium-metal batteries for next-generation drones. Initial customer flight testing delivered more than a 30% increase in flight range before any engineering optimization, according to the companies.
From flight test to commercialization
Factorial and Tulip say the new agreement establishes a commercialization framework covering joint customer engagement and a roadmap toward volume production. The deal builds on a broader partnership announced in May, when Factorial named Tulip alongside KULR Technology Group and JRES as integration partners across the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Boston-based Factorial develops solid-state cells through its FEST and Solstice platforms.
Why solid-state drone batteries matter
Demand for higher-endurance UAVs is rising across commercial, industrial and defense sectors as missions push further and carry more sensors. Factorial cites the global UAV market at more than $160 billion by 2034 and calls energy storage the bottleneck for mission radius, payload and fleet economics. Independent coverage of solid-state versus lithium-ion drone batteries has projected energy densities above 400 Wh/kg for solid-state chemistries, well beyond current commercial lithium-ion cells.
“Tulip has been an excellent partner to scale together with speed and reach,” said Siyu Huang, chief executive of Factorial. “Last year our automotive cell platform powered a historic 1,200-plus kilometer drive,” or roughly 745 miles, “on a single charge. This year it’s the sky.” The first long-distance flight delivered “more than 30% longer range,” she added. “Where lithium-ion runs out of road, lithium metal is just taking off.”
Tulip Tech scales UAV pack production
Tulip Tech, based in Den Bosch, specializes in custom high-density battery packs for uncrewed aerial vehicles. The company reports more than 250 customers across defense, security and commercial sectors, including NASA, and says it delivered more than 100,000 battery packs in a single month.
“Battery performance is the ceiling on almost every drone mission, and Tulip’s job is to raise that ceiling,” said Bernd Rietberg, chief executive of Tulip Tech. Factorial’s platform delivered “a standout result that has earned its place in our portfolio,” he added, saying the partners are moving from testing into commercialization.
More information is available at Factorial Energy.
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