Since four years Swerea SICOMP has been leading a team of Swedish researchers developing structural battery materials from polymer composites. The research performed in the Swedish project KOMBATT (Lightweight structural energy storage materials) is funded by the Swedish foundation for strategic research (SSF). The research addresses two technical challenges in particular. Firstly, solid polymer electrolytes that efficiently transfer loads in the composite and simultaneously transports lithium ions, while being electrically insulating, must be developed. Secondly, the ability of the reinforcement, i.e. The carbon fibres, to intercalate lithium ions as part of the chemical redox reactions, while maintaining its mechanical properties must be assured. This paper is the first in a series of papers at this conference from the KOMBATT project team and presents background and overview of the project.