In summer 2026, cases of cell lines being converted to a different purpose followed one another in North America and Korea. Ultium Cells, the GM–LG Energy Solution joint venture, retooled one EV line at its Spring Hill (Tennessee) plant into an LFP cell line for ESS at a cost of USD 70 million and began production on July 8, 2026, while its Warren (Ohio) plant resumed production of NCMA cells for EVs after a shutdown of about seven months, with about 1,400 workers returning. In the same period, Cosmos Lab raised a KRW 22 billion Series A and is preparing mass production of aqueous zinc-halogen batteries. This article distinguishes “purpose…