This paper introduces the concept of structural battery composite materials and their possible devices and the rationale for developing them. The paper presents an overview of the research performed in Sweden on a novel structural battery composite material. The research areas addressed include: carbon fibre electrodes, structural separators, multifunctional matrix materials, device architectures and material functionalization. Material characterization, fabrication and validation are also discussed. The paper focuses on a patented battery composite material technology. Here, carbon fibres are employed as combined negative battery electrodes and reinforcement, coated with a solid polymer electrolyte working simultaneously as electrolyte and separator with ability to transfer mechanical loads. The coated fibres are distributed in a conductive positive cathode material on an aluminium electron collector film. Efficient Li-ion transport between the electrodes is achieved by the solid polymer electrolyte coating being only a few hundred nanometres thick. Finally some outstanding scientific and engineering challenges are discussed. Such challenges, calling for further research are related to manufacture, development of new solid polymer electrolytes for improved multifunctionality and the lack of material models.