ASPILSAN INR18650A28: Turkey’s First Domestic Li-ion Cell
Quick answer: The ASPILSAN INR18650A28 is regarded as the first domestically developed lithium-ion cell to enter series production in Turkey. The 18650-format cell has a capacity of 2,800 mAh and a nominal voltage of 3.65 V; its cathode chemistry is nickel-rich lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). Series production began in June 2022 at the plant in the Kayseri Mimarsinan Organized Industrial Zone. The family has since grown with the A25 and A29 models, a 21700 format, and the silicon-anode A35 introduced in 2026.
The plant: Turkey’s first lithium-ion cell line
The 25,000-square-meter enclosed facility the company built in the Mimarsinan Organized Industrial Zone is described in the press and in official statements as Turkey’s first lithium-ion battery production plant. The production line was installed in 2021; series production of the INR18650A28 started in June 2022. According to company figures, annual capacity is 220 MWh, or roughly 21 million cells. An Anadolu Agency report from April 2026 states that about 1.5 billion Turkish lira was invested in the plant in 2022. Running the entire process, from electrode production to cell assembly, under one roof reflects the company’s goal of reducing foreign dependence in cell supply.
INR18650A28 technical data
According to the technical data published by the company, the cell weighs about 44.5 grams and delivers a specific energy of 230 Wh/kg; discharge is possible between -30 and +60 degrees Celsius. The maximum continuous discharge current is given as 14 A in manufacturer-sourced summaries, while some authorized distributors quote discharge up to 25 A; this discrepancy should be verified against the official datasheet. Cycle life is not officially disclosed. The company has announced that the cell completed accreditation testing for the European market; a numerical comparison with foreign counterparts appears in the comparison file.
| Specification | INR18650A28 | A35 (launch data) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 18650 cylindrical | 18650 cylindrical |
| Capacity | 2,800 mAh | 3,500 mAh |
| Nominal voltage | 3.65 V | 3.6 V |
| Anode | Graphite | Silicon/graphite composite |
| Max. continuous discharge | 14 A (manufacturer data) | 10 A |
| Operating temperature (discharge) | -30 / +60 °C | -30 / +60 °C |
| Cycle life | Not officially disclosed. | 600 cycles |
A35: the first Turkish cell with a silicon anode
Introduced at SAHA EXPO in May 2026, the A35 was announced in the sector press as Turkey’s first silicon-anode-based lithium-ion battery. The silicon/graphite composite anode raises capacity to 3,500 mAh in the same 18650 body. The company’s launch material lists a nominal voltage of 3.6 V, a maximum continuous discharge of 10 A, and a cycle life of 600 cycles. The 21700-format cell, according to an Anadolu Agency report from January 2025, was introduced in 2024; its series production schedule is not officially disclosed.
Where are the cells used?
INR18650 cells are used across a wide range of applications, from portable energy storage products to power tools, from radios to medical devices, and in micromobility vehicles such as e-scooters and e-bikes. On the defense side, the cells are the building blocks of soldier-portable batteries such as the BB-2590. The company says it is advancing its production technology through cooperation agreements signed with South Korean partners.
Why the 18650 format?
The 18650 is a cylindrical cell standard 18 millimeters in diameter and 65 millimeters tall; decades of manufacturing experience, from laptop batteries to electric vehicles, have accumulated around this format. A standard format means production equipment, test infrastructure, and battery pack designs remain compatible with the global ecosystem. ASPILSAN’s choice of this format for its first cell eases both the localization of existing packs in defense batteries and sales into the civilian market. The 21700 format the company introduced in 2024 (21 mm diameter, 70 mm height) offers higher capacity per cell, reducing part counts in energy storage and e-mobility packs.
The A25 and A29 models in the cell family are variants with differing capacity and current profiles; the official product page lists the three models together. Completing the European accreditation process was the technical precondition for selling the cells to battery manufacturers in the EU market; the company has announced that this process is complete. On the defense side, the practical outcome of cell production is that all of the battery families summarized in the products guide can be built with domestically produced cells.
Frequently asked questions
What does INR18650A28 stand for?
INR is the cell code indicating nickel-rich NMC chemistry; 18650 denotes the 18 mm diameter and 65 mm height; A28 identifies the 2,800 mAh ASPILSAN model.
Is the cell genuinely domestic?
Cell design and production take place at the Kayseri plant; the company and the press describe it as Turkey’s first lithium-ion cell production line. The share of domestic content in the raw material supply chain is not officially disclosed.
Can the A28 be purchased individually?
Yes. The cell is sold to industrial and individual customers through authorized distributors; the company points bulk buyers to its direct contact channels.
What is the production capacity?
According to company figures, 220 MWh per year, or roughly 21 million cells. There is no new official announcement of a capacity increase.
Is the A35 on sale?
The A35 was introduced at SAHA EXPO in May 2026. Its series production and sales schedule is not officially disclosed.
Sources and verification note
Technical values were taken from manufacturer statements and product pages; discrepancies from distributor sources are noted in the text (Accessed: August 13, 2026).
- https://www.aspilsan.com/cozumler/uretimini-yaptigimiz-sarj-edilebilir-lityum-iyon-pil/inr18650a28/
- https://www.aspilsan.com/en/aspilsan-enerji-started-to-mass-production-of-rechargeable-lithium-ion-cylindrical-cell/
- https://www.aspilsan.com/en/aspilsan-inr18650a28-lithium-ion-cylindrical-battery-cell-successfully-completed-european-accreditations/
- https://www.defenceturk.net/aspilsan-enerjiden-turkiyenin-ilk-silisyum-anot-tabanli-lityum-iyon-pili
- https://www.savunmatr.com/aspilsan-enerji-yeni-nesil-a35-ile-pil-teknolojisinde-citayi-yukseltti/
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/aspilsan-depolanabilir-enerji-urunlerini-ihrac-ediyor/3903545
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/savunma-sanayisi/aspilsan-urettigi-pil-ve-bataryalarla-savunma-sanayisine-guc-katiyor/3442088
