FacebookXLinkedIn

lithium-ion battery manufacturing

The Blessing of Chinese Graphite Export Restrictions

2023-10-20T15:33:53-04:00

On October 20, 2023, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced that it would restrict the export of the types of graphite used in military and EV applications.  Today China is the source of 60% of all natural graphite production and 90% of all synthetic graphite production.  News of the Chinese move sent shockwaves through the EV community and probably through the U.S. military as well.  Lithium-ion batteries used in EV’s and in military applications require large amounts of battery-grade graphite. Although the restriction of Chinese graphite may cause a short-term disruption in the supply of battery-grade graphite in North America, that [...]

The Blessing of Chinese Graphite Export Restrictions2023-10-20T15:33:53-04:00

Get Ready to See the Database

2021-08-27T11:24:02-04:00

One of NAATBatt’s most significant accomplishments in 2021 will be the publication of the North American Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database.  The Database will provide a directory of all companies in North America that participate in any significant element of the lithium-ion battery supply chain and have a manufacturing facility or employ more than 10 people in North America.  A team at NREL led by Dr. Ahmad Pesaran is currently in the process of finalizing the Database. The first opportunity for members of NAATBatt to see the Database will be during the meeting of the Manufacturing in North America Committee at [...]

Get Ready to See the Database2021-08-27T11:24:02-04:00

NAATBatt 2021 Suggests a Three-Part Plan for Building an Advanced Battery Industry in North America

2021-02-12T13:17:56-05:00

NAATBatt 2021 concluded on Thursday, February 11.  It was the first, and hopefully the last, virtual annual meeting of the NAATBatt International organization. By the standards of expectation, the meeting was a great success.  NAATBatt 2021 managed to incorporate the usual high-quality content of past NAATBatt annual meetings despite the disadvantage of its virtual format.  Most remarkable was the success of the networking sessions:  the on-line breakfast table discussions and the meeting and greet sessions.  Those proved immensely popular, proving that interactive sessions can work even in large virtual meetings and that good, productive conversations can still be had among participants. [...]

NAATBatt 2021 Suggests a Three-Part Plan for Building an Advanced Battery Industry in North America2021-02-12T13:17:56-05:00

The Conundrum of the North American Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain

2020-10-22T11:50:43-04:00

Electricity unattached to the grid will power the technologies that shape the 21st Century.  Unless and until fuel cells, green hydrogen and other electricity micro-generation technologies mature, advanced batteries, and in particular lithium-ion batteries, are likely to be the source of much of that power. Where those batteries are made and who makes them matters.  Ensuring adequate supplies of lithium-ion batteries will be an important national security issue.  Lithium-ion batteries are also an important tool in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  But most importantly, lithium-ion batteries and the technologies they enable are likely to create substantial wealth and many [...]

The Conundrum of the North American Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain2020-10-22T11:50:43-04:00

Battery Day and the North American Lithium-ion Supply Chain

2020-09-25T16:36:57-04:00

Tesla’s Battery Day on September 22 did not disappoint.  Whether you came away encouraged (as did many EV enthusiasts) or disappointed (as did the stock market), Elon and the gang provided ample content for the advanced battery community to dissect and debate for the next six months. For me, the most noteworthy content was not the technical detail of where Tesla is going with its battery technology.  The move to tabless 4860 cells, more silicon, less cobalt, away from solid state technology (apparently), and the road map to a 56% reduction in battery costs were all very interesting topics, if not [...]

Battery Day and the North American Lithium-ion Supply Chain2020-09-25T16:36:57-04:00

Time for NAATBatt 2.0?

2020-05-01T22:42:49-04:00

Twelve years ago a group of U.S. businessmen and battery experts came together to create a consortium to make sure that American companies would be an important force in the global competition to dominate lithium-ion battery manufacturing. The founders named the consortium “NAATBatt”, at the time an acronym for National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries. The idea behind NAATBatt was based on the SEMATECH consortium founded by leading companies in the American semi-conductor industry in the 1980’s. SEMATECH was to help U.S. semi-conductor manufacturers fight off competition from an aggressive Asian competitor, which was seeking at the time, perhaps by [...]

Time for NAATBatt 2.0?2020-05-01T22:42:49-04:00

The Next Stimulus Package Should Focus on Lithium Battery Infrastructure

2020-04-03T21:32:17-04:00

During a recent telephone meeting of the NAATBatt Strategic Planning Committee, one committee member noted that the next stage of the COVID-19 stimulus package was likely to include investments in national transportation infrastructure.  The committee member suggested that NAATBatt advocate for allocating part of those new investment to building up the lithium battery supply chain in the United States. I have argued in this column on many occasions that lithium-based battery technology is one of the most important technologies of the 21st Century.  Countries that control that technology will have the inside track on leadership in the development and manufacture [...]

The Next Stimulus Package Should Focus on Lithium Battery Infrastructure2020-04-03T21:32:17-04:00

What Should the United States Do to Regain Leadership in Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing? — by Dr. George Crabtree

2019-12-06T15:18:36-05:00

by Dr. George Crabtree Director, Joint Center for Energy Storage Research Argonne National Laboratory             Dr. George Crabtree Here is an optimistic perspective: the U.S. or Europe can regain a competitive and perhaps a leading position in lithium-ion battery manufacturing with no significant change in battery chemistry. Two facts support this optimism. First, 15 years ago China had little or no footprint in lithium-ion battery manufacturing.  At that time, Japan and South Korea dominated the field.  In the last 15 years, China rose from effectively zero to the leading position in lithium-ion battery manufacturing.  [...]

What Should the United States Do to Regain Leadership in Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing? — by Dr. George Crabtree2019-12-06T15:18:36-05:00

What Should the United States Do to Regain Leadership in Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing?

2019-10-25T20:53:02-04:00

Lithium-ion battery technology is one of the most important technologies of the 21st Century.  As vehicle fleets around the world electrify, lithium-ion batteries will become the new oil.  The companies and countries that dominate the development and manufacture of lithium-ion batteries are set to dominate the global vehicle industries of the next 50-100 years. The importance of lithium-ion technology, however, goes well beyond cars.  Most of the technologies that will make the 21st Century different than the 20th Century will depend on electric power supplied free of a fixed electricity grid.  Consumer electronics, implantable medical devices, wearable technology, the Internet of [...]

What Should the United States Do to Regain Leadership in Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing?2019-10-25T20:53:02-04:00
Go to Top