Almost halfway through 2024. Feeling like the battery news doesn’t stop coming? Same. Our top picks for this month.
We are delighted to be sponsored by TA Instruments. Their new Discovery Hybrid Rheometer Rheo-Impedance Spectroscopy accessory achieves unmatched data quality in both dielectric impedance and rheology measurements. The novel design eliminates the need for electrical contact with the upper tool, allowing for testing across the full range of the DHR’s torque sensitivity to enable precise characterization of viscosity, yield stress, viscoelasticity, and structure recovery. Rheo-IS measurements help predict successful electrode performance prior to full battery assembly, saving time and money while optimizing slurry formulations.
They are running a free webinar on the 11th June: A Comprehensive Rheological Characterization to Optimize Electrode Manufacturing. You can sign up here.
🌶️ US gets spicy with tariffs
The Biden administration has significantly hiked tariffs on selected Chinese imports, including the tariff on EV duties jumping to 102.5% from 27.5%. Elon Musk is said to oppose the tariffs. However, Chinese EV makers have been anticipating this for a while however, and companies like Volvo and Polestar are already ‘Chinese owned, EU/US made’ in a very solid attempt to come through ‘side doors’ as described by Kyle Chan.
Halle Cheeseman highlights the challenges faced by the US and European OEMs nicely in this LinkedIn post about the BYD seagull…. “the West are in trouble”. We have a full analysis piece coming on this very soon, hold tight!
These new tariffs are also in the context of the upcoming US elections in November, which could change the game with Trump potentially repealing the IRA.
These tariffs are part of a broad strategy to counter China's growing influence in the global EV market. While they aim to bolster domestic production, there are very real concerns about increased costs for consumers and the impact on global supply chains.
☝️ Stationary Storage Exponential Take Off
Less than 7 years since the first ‘big’ battery storage was installed, global stationary storage capacity is about to overtake global capacity of pumped hydro. The number of new projects announced is massive, and the pace is relentless,but some highlights include:
RWE has started on Australia’s first 8 hour battery in south-west New South Wales, contracting Tesla to supply packs.
China has switched on its first utility scale sodium ion battery plan and hopes to reduce the cost of storage by 20-30%.
LG wins an estimated $1bn ESS deal in Arizona. Underscores the expanding demand for battery solutions in the United States.
🔥 More big layoffs
Fast-charging company FreeWire is closing its HQ in June and laying off virtually all its staff. It’s unknown how long Fisker has left, with reports not looking fantastic for the smaller EV manufacturer. Liquid metal battery developer Ambri filed for bankruptcy. Enovix has reportedly laid off 1/3 of its staff. Lucid is laying off about 400 employees (6% of staff) as of last week. Ionic Materials has fired more than 40 employees and is closing down and selling its equipment.
Hit by the downs at the moment? We are doing a ‘New Homes’ series to promote openings and match up those affected with new opportunities.
🎈 Some on the up…
Battery recycling firm Cylib raised €55m in a Series A round. Base Power has come out of stealth in Texas, aiming to provide storage batteries to houses and the full home power package.
🚁 Lithium Metal validations
Northvolt’s Cuberg has released a report of third-party validation of the world’s first lithium-metal battery module, targeted at electric aviation.
Headline figures are the module achieved 692 cycles under the profile, which claims to fly 66,432 total miles with a fully loaded aircraft. This implies replacing the pack every 3-6 months if used more than once a day, an intensive use of lithium and battery critical metals. Aviation is a tough nut to crack! You can find the full white paper here.
🌲Tesla protests
May saw the Tesla factory near Berlin, Germany close for a couple of days due to environmental protests against the plant’s planned expansion. 800 people attempted to storm the site, highlighting significant environmental concerns both in Germany and more globally.
The demonstrators opposed the deforestation necessary for the factory's growth and voiced concerns regarding local water supply issues, as well as the impact of lithium mining in South America. It raises the question once again, what is a sustainable battery?
🌏 Australia launches a national battery strategy
The strategy focuses on four key elements: energy storage systems for renewable energy, upgrading raw minerals into processed battery components, enhancing battery safety, and producing batteries for transport manufacturing. Worth noting that Australia is a key supplier of Lithium, but that it does not currently have a large-scale giga-factory.
🎧 What else we're reading and listening to
The Battery Production Problem webinar. Join Voltaiq and Siemens to learn about the hard truths about ramping up new gigafactories to profitable operation can take up to four years and cost billions of dollars. Learn about the underlying causes of this delay and expense and how to mitigate them.
Great podcast on Transmission from Modo Energy’s Ed Porter and Shaniyaa Holness-Mckenzie
The Battery Technology Podcast with Cheryl Thibault on emerging battery chemistries and the challenge of climate control.
Live interviews from the Financial Times Future of the Car event in London by Battery Associates on Vehicle to Grid.
🌞 Thanks for reading!
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