Stark Future and Wanxiang A123 partner to industrialise the 26120 cell for high-performance electric motorcycles
Stark Future, the world’s fastest-growing motorcycle company, has entered a strategic partnership with Wanxiang A123 to bring the 26120 cylindrical cell into series supply for next-generation electric motorcycles. Purpose-built around the packaging realities of two-wheel performance, the 26120 format advances energy density, charging speed, and thermal management far beyond car-adapted cells.
Technical Advantages
Unlike common 21700 cells, the 26120 geometry leverages motorcycle chassis width to increase volumetric efficiency and reduce module complexity, cutting mass and enabling cleaner thermal paths. An aluminium enclosure improves heat transfer and lowers weight, supporting sustained high loads in off-road and street applications.
Target performance includes ~330 Wh/kg energy density and ~10–15 minute ultra-fast charging, setting a new benchmark for premium electric two-wheelers.
Partnership Development
Stark Future’s initial 26120 development began in partnership with EVE Energy, whose early-cell programmes validated the motorcycle-first format and accelerated lab and field testing.
Consistent with Stark’s multi-sourcing approach to strengthen resilience, scale, and innovation, Stark is now pleased to add Wanxiang A123 as a series-supply partner for the 26120 format. This diversified model ensures performance continuity for riders and gives Stark the flexibility to industrialise the platform at speed across products and regions.
A123’s High-Power Technology
A123’s proprietary high-power powder technology is engineered for high-rate discharge and rapid charge acceptance with inherently stable safety characteristics, ideal for repeated hard acceleration and aggressive regen. The low-impedance cylindrical architecture optimises the jelly-roll, tabs, and current collectors to cut internal resistance and heat rise at high C-rates.
The aluminum can acts as a heat-spreader, simplifying pack cooling and sustaining output across long motos or repeated heats. Integrated safety features include robust separators, controlled venting, and pack-level BMS logic (cut-out, fault isolation, cell monitoring) tailored for motorsport, supporting quick post-event discharge and scrutineering.
This foundation enables fast charge and durability, delivering aggressive fast-charge profiles with long cycle life under partial-charge operation, and proven real-world resilience validated for vibration, shock, and wide-temperature use, matching the demands of off-road and variable-weather riding.
Global Scale & Innovation
With 20+ years of innovation and 700+ core patents (including 500+ invention patents), Wanxiang A123 supplies leading OEMs. A global footprint, 3 R&D bases and 5 laboratoriesacross China, the U.S., and Europe, combined with approximately 80 GWh of cell capacity, enables a “global R&D + local supply” model that moves quickly from prototype to mass supply.
A123’s high-power pedigree, including F1 battery programs, underpins the 26120’s pulse-current capability, fast-charge durability, and wide-temperature resilience demanded by premium two-wheelers.
Large cylindrical demand in electric two-wheelers accelerated in 2024 (shipments up ~150%), making 26120 a timely platform for next-generation motorcycles.
Stark Facility
Dr. Jack Li, General Manager of A123: “A123 has always focused on the high-power lithium-ion battery technologies. The development of the 26120 not only fully demonstrates the technical advantages accumulated by A123 over the long term but also reflects our courage and capability to continuously pioneer and innovate in emerging fields.”
Anton Wass, CEO & Founder, Stark Future: “Motorcycles deserve their own battery architecture, not hand-me-downs from the car industry. With 26120, we unlock capacity and reduce weight while improving charge time. It’s a step change for electric performance.”
With 26120 prototypes now being tested at Barcelona R&D, Stark Future will integrate the format into future platforms, advancing our position at the forefront of electric motorcycle technology.
