Flywheel Startup Qnetic Builds Large Test Cell in Shanghai, Eyes US Production

Qnetic, a US-China startup, is constructing what it calls the world's largest dedicated flywheel test cell in Shanghai and plans to manufacture long-duration energy storage systems in California.

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Flywheel energy storage startup Qnetic is advancing its long-duration technology with a new testing facility in Shanghai and plans for US manufacturing. The company, which has headquarters in both the US and China, is building what it describes as "the world's largest dedicated flywheel test cell" at its Technology Center in Shanghai. According to the company, the investment in the facility is a "million-dollar-plus investment." Excavation and foundation work at the site was well under way as of early July 2026.

Qnetic's flywheel system stores energy kinetically by spinning a rotor in a vacuum enclosure. The rotor is 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall, made of carbon fiber, and magnetically levitated by repulsive permanent magnets. The company is currently working on a 200 kWh prototype called Pulsar. It plans to first market a 500 kWh unit, followed by a 1,000 kWh unit. The 1,000 kWh version is designed to discharge over 4 to 12 hours with an 85% round-trip efficiency, according to EPRI.

The startup raised $7.1 million over a 12-month period ending March 2026, including a $5 million funding round in 2026 and a $2.1 million equity crowdfunding campaign in 2025. The funds are earmarked for Qnetic's California factory, where it will start low-volume production of its Q500 system. Qnetic has validation agreements with both the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).