“With the rapid advancement of robotics and the growing popularity of low-altitude aircraft, emerging industries are witnessing surging demand for high-performance, ultra-safe lithium batteries,” stated Chen Xuan, founder and chairwoman of Jiangsu Reliance Energy Tech. Co., Ltd. (Reliance Energy). In her view, large cylindrical batteries—particularly those leveraging tabless technology (also known as“Full tab”)—are emerging as the ideal energy solution for these fields, thanks to their superior energy density, cycle life, wide temperature adaptability, and safety.
Compared to prismatic or pouch cells, Chen Xuan emphasized that cylindrical batteries offer more uniform chemical reaction interfaces, structural stability, and compatibility with high-nickel ternary + silicon anode systems. These attributes enable higher energy density and better tolerance for material expansion, resulting in unmatched consistency, stability, and safety.
Cylindrical batteries already dominate high-power applications such as power tools, supercars, landscaping and agricultural machinery, construction equipment, and low-altitude aircraft. With the integration of tabless technology, their potential in electric vehicles (EVs) and other sectors is also gaining industry attention.
Chen Xuan explained that the tabless design significantly reduces internal resistance, enhances charge-discharge efficiency, and improves thermal management. This breakthrough provides reliable, efficient energy solutions for emerging applications like medium-to-large electric landscaping tools, construction/agricultural machinery, residential energy storage systems, and low-altitude aircraft. “Dubbed the ‘pentagon warrior,’ tabless cylindrical cells strike an optimal balance between high energy density, long lifespan, safety, cost, and efficiency, paving a new path for the widespread adoption of power batteries,” she noted.
However, tabless cylindrical cells face formidable challenges. Beyond the inherent demands of cylindrical cells—such as stricter self-discharge control, dimensional precision, and manufacturing tolerances compared to prismatic/pouch formats—tabless technology introduces new hurdles: complex material and chemical system design, ultra-high consistency requirements, process yield optimization, and technical bottlenecks like current collector design and laser penetration welding.
To overcome these barriers, Chen Xuan and her team leveraged over a decade of expertise in premium cylindrical cell manufacturing and pioneered innovations in materials, design, and processes. Reliance Energy has achieved industry-first mass production of high-performance, high-safety tabless large cylindrical batteries. “Through end-to-end production monitoring, we’ve not only resolved tabless manufacturing challenges but also elevated consistency and safety to set a new industry benchmark,” Chen Xuan affirmed.
Reliance Energy specializes in R&D, manufacturing, and system solutions for premium tabless cylindrical cells. Its products excel in high-rate capability, high energy density, wide temperature range, longevity, and uniformity. The company offers full-solution tabless cylindrical batteries in 21700 and 46-series formats, with technical routes spanning ultra-high power, ultra-high power + high capacity, and hybrid configurations. Applications cover power tools, robotics, e-bikes, AGVs, robotic lawnmowers, eVTOLs, EVs, and construction machinery.
On production capacity, Reliance Energy has planned a phased rollout of over 50GWh for tabless high-performance cylindrical batteries.
As a 26-year veteran in high-end industrial R&D and manufacturing, Chen Xuan brings over 15 years of lithium battery expertise. She previously built a startup into China’s top-tier high-rate power tool battery supplier, becoming one of the first domestic firms to enter the core supply chains of global top-four power tool manufacturers.
Her renewed focus on premium cylindrical cells stems from the vast potential of lithium electrification in robotics, low-altitude mobility, smart homes, and electric landscaping tools. For instance, Chen Xuan highlighted that humanoid robots demand batteries with both high energy density and rapid charge-discharge capabilities—a “perfect heart” to power the intelligent future.
“Reliance Energy aims to become the world’s leading supplier of tabless cylindrical cells and system solutions,” Chen Xuan declared. “Through relentless innovation, we will unlock the limitless potential of lithium batteries as reliable mobile energy sources, meet diverse application needs, and contribute to a better, smarter world.”