Next-generation battery technology investments refer to strategic research and development projects carried out to increase energy storage capacity and ensure environmental sustainability. These investments are of great importance, especially in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy (Maher and Boumaiza, 2024). In this process, alternative technologies such as solid-state batteries, lithium-sulfur, sodium-ion and flow battery systems come to the fore. New-generation battery technologies are also very effective in achieving sustainable development goals. Battery recycling processes and circular economy applications are being developed in an integrated manner with these investments. However, new-generation battery investments also bring some challenges. In this context, there are some technical and economic obstacles such as high research costs and security risks (Plante, 2025). In addition, dependence on critical raw materials is among the risks that need to be managed carefully. In this context, next-generation battery technology investments are considered one of the fundamental building blocks of the energy transformation. Due to this situation, these projects are considered a strategic priority by both the public and private sectors. In summary, to ensure the performance improvement of these projects, several measures must be implemented to manage these risks correctly.

Some criteria need to be improved systematically to increase the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. These criteria should be addressed at both technical and economic levels. Energy density is an issue that needs to be provided to achieve this goal. Increasing the amount of energy per battery is the most critical technical criterion. Cycle life and stability are also another important factors in this process. The number of charge-discharge cycles a battery can perform is directly related to the return on investment. Like this situation, charging time is also of critical importance in this process. Batteries that can be fully charged in a short time are of great importance in terms of user acceptance, especially in electric vehicles. This is necessary so that the batteries do not overheat and do not lose performance. Easy access to raw materials also increases the performance of these projects. In this context, battery production should be carried out with more sustainable and abundant materials instead of environmentally problematic metals. On the other hand, production and maintenance costs should be reduced for new technologies to be competitive. This situation contributes significantly to increasing the financial profitability of the projects. Furthermore, security risks such as fire and explosion should be minimized in new battery systems. The high security of investment projects allows more investors to focus on these projects.

It is necessary to determine the most important criteria in new generation battery technology investments. The fact that businesses do not have an unlimited budget when making investments forces them to make strategic decisions. Budget constraints make it impossible to improve all criteria at the same time at the highest level. Therefore, it is necessary to determine which criteria contribute more to investment performance. This helps to direct resources to the right areas (Moyo et al., 2023). On the other hand, highlighting critical criteria allows businesses to develop priority strategies. This also plays an important role in preventing loss of time and waste of resources. Moreover, determining the most important variables reduces uncertainties and enables more effective decisions to be made. Businesses design their strategic plans more soundly according to the determined priority criteria. In addition, the risk-benefit balance can be established more accurately. With the help of this issue, issues regarding which areas are riskier or more beneficial to invest in can be clarified. The fact that there are few studies in the literature that systematically determine the most effective criteria in new generation battery technology investments is considered a research gap. This deficiency leads to various problems and uncertainties at both academic and practical levels. Businesses lack models based on measurable and prioritized criteria that can guide their investment decisions. This deficiency increases the risk of errors in strategic planning.

To satisfy this deficiency, this study aims to determine the priority strategies to increase the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. In this process, a new decision-making model is developed to achieve this goal. In the first stage, the evaluations for the criteria and alternatives are constructed by the synthetic assessments. The second stage is related to the weighting the criteria with case and parameter-based multi-facet fuzzy logarithmic least-squares. Finally, the alternatives are ranked by considering fuzzy weighted aggregated sum product assessment (WASPAS). New generation battery technologies are of critical importance in many areas such as electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and portable devices. However, to increase the investment performance of these technologies, some technical and economic criteria need to be systematically improved. Many criteria have an impact on increasing the performance of these investments. However, there is a lack of systematic analysis in the literature on which of these criteria are more critical. This leads to decision uncertainty for investors. On the other hand, a new decision-making model is needed to solve this problem. Existing classical methods may be insufficient to solve these complex problems. The elimination of these deficiencies can be considered as the most important motivation of the study. In this context, this study aims to determine the answers to the following questions by establishing a new decision-making model.

This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by systematically determining the technical and economic criteria affecting performance in new generation battery technology investments and presenting an innovative decision-making model that enables the development of priority strategies. The superiorities of the proposed model are demonstrated below. (1) The development of multi-facet fuzzy sets in this study provides an important contribution to the literature. These sets are introduced as a new type of fuzzy numbers that provide dynamic decision making. The dynamic feature is the redefinition of membership degrees with different parameter sets. Moreover, each scenario or fuzzy is created differently according to its evaluations. Scenario 1 is called the negative case. The priority of this scenario penalizes uncertainty and non-membership. Scenario 2 defines the positive case that aims to provide high membership with reward engagement. On the other side, Scenario 3 proposes an unstable case with prioritized resistance and penalized low membership. Moreover, scenario 4 defines the natural case with neutral and balanced behaviour of the decision maker. (2) In addition, dynamic evaluation can be done according to the conditions in this proposed model. Therefore, dynamic parameter sets are determined with various statistical calculations. The dynamic evaluations could also be considered by computing the parameters with per-item statistics. Accordingly, four extreme conditions are defined to determine the dynamic parameters for the multi-facet fuzzy sets. Condition 1 considers the maximum variance with the largest variance. Condition 2 defines the maximum entropy with the largest entropy measurement. Condition 3 is based on the maximum resistance potential. Condition 4 is a balanced position giving the average parameter values of these three conditions. This provides an opportunity to make clearer decisions based on scenarios and dynamic evaluations in complex decision-making processes.

The second section of the study examines the relevant literature and reveals current approaches and research gaps. The third section presents a detailed new decision-making model developed to make investment decisions more effective. The fourth section includes analysis results for the implementation of the proposed model. The fifth section discusses the findings and provides evaluations for literature and practitioners. Finally, the sixth section summarizes the general results of the study and provides suggestions for future research.

Circularity can significantly affect the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. New-generation batteries usually contain critical minerals. The circular economy approach ensures the recovery of these minerals. This contributes to the reduction of raw material dependency (Yang and Fulton, 2023). With the help of this condition, the costs of the projects are significantly reduced. As a result of this issue, the economic sustainability of the investments can be ensured (Suhail et al., 2024). Circular applications are important in terms of reducing waste and reducing carbon emissions. In this way, investment projects can be evaluated as environmentally friendly. Environmentally friendly projects can also access the financing resources they need much faster (Wang et al., 2023). On the other hand, this situation is also important in terms of providing innovation in production and design processes. Kim et al. (2024) denoted that if the battery is designed with circular economy principles, reuse can be ensured. This situation can significantly enable the cost effectiveness of the projects. According to Zhao et al. (2024), the image of companies that prioritize circularity is developing positively in the eyes of customers. Due to this situation, these products may be preferred more by investors with high social responsibility awareness.

The use of alternative materials contributes to the increase in the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. Critical minerals used in battery technologies are expensive and limited resources (Şensoy, 2023). On the other hand, alternative materials are cheaper and more abundant. This situation significantly reduces the cost of batteries. As a result of this situation, the investment payback period is significantly improved (Altiparmak et al., 2025). The materials used in traditional batteries can be environmentally harmful. Alternative materials can have a lower carbon footprint. This situation allows the environmental pollution problem to be significantly reduced. The use of alternative materials is also necessary to reduce supply chain risk (Daniarta et al., 2024). Most critical elements are produced in geopolitically sensitive regions. Pesaran (2023) identified that alternative materials allow this dependency to be reduced. This situation also contributes to the provision of supply chain security. Owing to this situation, the operational sustainability of investment projects can be increased. Furthermore, Mohseni et al. (2023) underlined that some alternative materials can provide certain advantages such as fast charging and increased energy density. This increases the competitiveness of battery systems.

Compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure significantly affects the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. The integration of a new battery technology into existing production lines significantly reduces the need for new equipment (Shaji et al., 2023). Owing to this situation, capital expenditures of companies are significantly reduced. In the event of incompatibility, serious infrastructure transformation costs arise. This situation negatively affects the financial performance of projects (Watabe and Leaver, 2023). Compatible technologies can be quickly put into operation in existing production systems. As a result of this issue, the time to market of the product is shortened (Du, 2024). Thus, companies can gain a significant competitive advantage. Moreover, Vásquez et al. (2025) identified that this situation is also critical for ensuring operational efficiency. If existing automation systems can easily integrate with new technology, operational risks decrease and efficiency increases. Otherwise, new systems must be established to reach this objective. This situation causes significant increases in costs. Moreover, Zeng and Qu (2023) underlined that technologies that can be tested in existing production environments can go through processes such as error analysis at an early stage. This situation also significantly supports the reduction of uncertainties in the process.

The safety factor critically affects the performance of next-generation battery technology investments. It is important that new battery technologies are resistant to risks such as combustion and explosion. This situation supports the business from experiencing operational interruptions (Lyu et al., 2023). Due to this situation, continuity of investment and operational efficiency can be ensured. Moreover, this situation also plays a critical role in reducing insurance costs (Bican et al., 2023). Insurance premiums are lower in investments made in high-security technologies. Similarly, legal compliance can be achieved more easily, so legal costs can be reduced (Ajibade et al., 2024). These issues also contribute significantly to strengthening financial sustainability. On the other hand, according to Dhairiyasamy et al. (2024), safety is a fundamental parameter that needs to be developed together with innovation in battery technologies. In other words, it is very necessary to bring the safety element to the forefront in research studies. Overbeck et al. (2023) concluded that although new technology develops, some problems occur because the safety factor is not taken into consideration. This situation also leads to an increase in financial costs.

The literature review results show that adopting circularity principles significantly increases the economic, environmental and operational sustainability of new generation battery technology investments. The use of alternative materials reduces costs and supports supply chain security. In addition, it is seen that technologies compatible with existing production infrastructures shorten investment payback periods and provide competitive advantage. The security factor directly affects not only operational continuity but also legal and insurance costs. However, some important deficiencies are striking in the literature. Studies on the evaluation of the interactions of these factors within a holistic model framework are limited. Moreover, there are not enough studies determining the most critical of these factors. This situation emerges as a significant deficiency in the literature on new generation battery technology investments. On the other side, while many previous studies focus on technical and economic performance indicators, they often rely on static decision-making approaches. However, these criteria are subject to high uncertainty and expert subjectivity. Therefore, a fuzzy dynamic modelling framework is essential to capture these complexities and provide more adaptable and realistic evaluations. This study addresses this gap by incorporating multi-facet fuzzy sets with dynamic membership functions.

This proposed model integrates different techniques, such as synthetic evaluations, logarithmic least-squares weighting, multi-facet fuzzy sets and WASPAS. The details of these techniques are explained in the following parts.

The proposed model has three different stages. The details of these stages are given in the following subsections. Briefly, to enhance readability, the intermediary computational results, including parameter-based multi-facet fuzzy numbers, per-item statistics, and normalized matrices, are presented in Appendix B (Tables A.1– A.25). This structure ensures that the main manuscript remains focused on key findings while preserving full transparency and reproducibility. Table 2 and 3 give information about the linguistic evaluations from the expert. Table 4 provides a comparison of the criteria weights obtained through both case-based assessments and parameter-based assessments. The similarity between these weighting results demonstrates the internal consistency and reliability of the proposed model. It is observed that circularity (CRCLT) and compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure (CWEMI) have the highest weights, indicating their critical role in next-generation battery technology investments. Table 5 presents the final rankings of the alternatives based on the aggregated multi-facet fuzzy WASPAS results. In this ranking process, both SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) and WASPAS components are integrated to provide a balanced evaluation of the alternatives. The aggregation is performed by combining the weighted normalized performance values obtained from the parameter-based assessments. The final ranking reflects the comprehensive performance of each alternative under dynamic conditions.

According to the final results, energy production in extreme weather conditions (EPEWC) is identified as the most critical investment alternative for next-generation battery technologies. This finding underscores the growing importance of resilient energy solutions in response to climate change and unpredictable environmental conditions. Early-stage biotech startups (ESBST) and electric vehicles with higher energy density (EVWHD) also emerge as significant alternatives, reflecting the technological advancements and strategic priorities within the sector.

Circularity is an approach that prioritizes recycling and waste reduction throughout the life cycle of a product or technology. Battery designs that comply with circular economy principles can reduce environmental impacts while reducing costs. In the literature, it is emphasized that not only technological performance, but also material sustainability and recovery strategies are important in battery investments. With the provision of circularity, domestic production and resource independence can be achieved. Etxandi-Santolaya et al. (2023) mentioned that this situation contributes significantly to reducing the economic fragility of countries. In the literature, some studies underline the importance of energy density or cost efficiency for the performance improvements of the next-generation battery technology investments (Rizos and Urban, 2024). Unlike these traditional investment approaches, this study highlights the significance of the environmental issues in this process, such as resource efficiency and recyclability. Schulz-Mönninghoff et al. (2023) defined that future investment strategies should integrate circular design principles to these financial issues. Easier recovery of these batteries in a circular system also reduces external dependency on raw materials. Batteries with decomposable designs reduce recycling costs.

It is identified that compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure also plays a key role for the performance improvements of the next-generation battery technology investments. Integration with the existing manufacturing infrastructure supports the return on investment of these technologies. Fahma et al. (2024) demonstrated that establishing a new production line is quite costly in terms of both capital investment and time. It is vital that new battery technology is easily integrated into existing production lines. This allows for the reduction of restructuring costs. Denisart et al. (2024) identified that technologies compatible with the existing infrastructure shorten the time to production. With the help of these issues, these projects can become operational in the markets very quickly. This situation offers a significant competitive advantage to the enterprises. Moreover, according to Naseri et al. (2023), compatibility facilitates workforce adaptation, minimizes transition risks, and supports the integration with established supply chains. From a strategic investment perspective, infrastructure adaptability not only lowers operational risks but also enhances the attractiveness of such technologies for institutional investors and industry stakeholders.

In our proposed methodology, several scenarios and dynamic parameters are considered for solving the complex decision-making problems. Properly, we propose negative scenario to represent pessimistic market conditions, such as raw material shortages, regulatory restrictions, or major technological setbacks. For instance, lithium supply disruptions or unfavourable policies banning certain battery components lead to increased uncertainty and reduced stakeholder engagement. However, the positive scenario reflects highly favourable market dynamics, such as breakthrough research in solid-state battery technology, major cost reductions, or supportive government incentives like tax credits for green energy storage. Under these conditions, investor engagement is maximized, and technological optimism dominates. Unstable Case captures volatile and uncertain environments, characterized by fluctuating raw material prices, geopolitical tensions affecting supply chains, or rapid but uneven technological innovation. For example, sudden policy reversals on electric vehicle incentives or global supply chain disruptions due to pandemics are reflected by this scenario’s prioritization of resistance and penalization of low membership. The natural scenario corresponds to stable, balanced market situations where neither major disruptions nor significant breakthroughs are expected. Typical examples include gradual, predictable improvements in battery technologies or steady policy environments without abrupt regulatory shifts.

Similarly, the dynamic parameter adjustments provide more satisfactory outcomes to discuss the performance metrics. Maximum variance condition reflects situations with highly inconsistent expert evaluations, signaling significant uncertainty or disagreement in market expectations. This often corresponds to unpredictable investment environments, such as emerging battery technologies facing technical feasibility debates or fragmented regulatory landscapes. Maximum entropy captures high system disorder, associated with rapidly evolving technologies, regulatory ambiguity, or unclear industry standards. For instance, shifting policy frameworks for battery recycling or evolving ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) requirements increase decision complexity, justifying entropy-driven parameter adjustments. The condition of maximum resistance models contexts where stakeholders exhibit heightened resistance to adopting new battery technologies. Such scenarios may arise due to safety concerns (e.g. battery fires), public opposition to mining activities, or institutional inertia in established energy markets. Finally, balanced conditions represent moderate, predictable investment environments with average levels of uncertainty, risk, and stakeholder resistance. It applies to markets with incremental technological progress and stable policy frameworks.

The primary focus of this study is on technical and strategic criteria. However, it is also acknowledged that regulatory and policy mechanisms such as carbon pricing or mandatory recycling regulations can significantly influence the weight and relevance of certain investment indicators. Within this framework, the flexibility of the proposed multi-facet fuzzy model enables dynamic recalibration of membership functions based on policy-driven scenarios. For example, in a high carbon tax scenario, environmental compatibility and circularity-related criteria may gain greater importance. This adaptability enhances the practical value of the model by allowing stakeholders to test different regulatory environments. Owing to this issue, their potential impact on investment priorities can be observed.

This study tries to define the priority strategies to increase the performance of new generation battery technology investments. For this purpose, an innovative decision-making model is developed by integrating multi-facet fuzzy sets, logarithmic least-squares and WASPAS techniques. In the three-stage model proposed in the study, firstly the criteria and alternatives are defined by the synthetic evaluation method. In the second stage, the criteria weights are calculated by the multi-dimensional and situational fuzzy logarithmic least squares method. In the last stage, the alternatives are ranked by using the fuzzy WASPAS method. Circularity is found the most critical factor for the development of these projects. It is also identified that compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure also plays a key role for the performance improvements of the next-generation battery technology investments. It is concluded that energy production in extreme weather conditions is the most critical investment alternative for new generation battery technologies. Moreover, early-stage biotech startups and electric vehicles with higher energy density are other significant alternatives for this situation. Based on the prioritization of the circularity criterion, this study suggests several actionable strategies for investors. Adopting design-for-recycling principles in battery development can be very helpful to achieve this objective. Furthermore, using recyclable and low-impact materials can contribute significantly to improving the circular performance of battery technologies. These practices not only align with environmental goals but also help future-proof investments against tightening regulatory standards.

This study makes a significant contribution to the literature by prioritizing the performance indicators of new generation battery technology investments via an innovative decision-making model. This provides the opportunity to make clearer decisions based on scenarios and dynamic evaluations in complex decision-making processes. There are some important limitations of this study. The criteria and alternative evaluations used in the study are based on a limited number of expert opinions. This situation may create some limitations in terms of general validity and objectivity. In future studies, an analysis can be carried out with the participation of more experts. In this context, the generalizability of the model can be increased by obtaining the opinions of more experts working in different sectors. Weighting can be done according to the demographic and experience characteristics of the experts. Despite the use of a multiple scenario approach, all possible uncertainty situations are not fully covered. In this context, sensitivity analysis can be done according to different market conditions and technological development rates. This study relies on expert judgments that can introduce subjectivity and variability depending on the experts’ background and consistency. Moreover, while the proposed model performs well for medium-scale problems, its computational complexity may increase significantly with a higher number of criteria and alternatives. Future research may address these constraints by integrating automated expert selection systems or developing scalable optimization-based fuzzy frameworks.