This Week in Batteries: CATL, Samsung SDI, GM, Rivian, and More

? ?? This Week In Batteries (TWIB) ?? ?

Top News

- CATL offers rare discounts to Chinese automakers accelerating the decline of lithium prices (Link)

- US battery production projected to 20x in this decade (Link)

- Samsung SDI to build battery plant with GM (Link)

Metals & Processed Chemicals

- Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Brazil plan to coordinate on exploiting mineral (Lithium) reserves to improve the battery supply chain in South America (Link)

OEMs

- Rivian plans to raise ~$1.3 billion in green convertible senior notes, stock down 14% on news (Link)

- Tesla cuts U.S. Model S and Model X prices between 4% and 9% (Link)

- Cruise to focus on cost cuts as it ramps up robotaxis (Link)

- Scout Motors to build $2B manufacturing facility in South Carolina; 200,000 Scout vehicles are estimates to be produced per year (Link)

Components Manufacturing

- Amprius Technologies selects Colorado for GWh-scale factory site (Link)

Cell & Pack Manufacturing

- Panasonic reflects on its Nevada operations to prepare for its Kansas plant (Link)

- Xerotech and Innolith partner to bring non-flammable battery to market (Link)

- Roughly 70% of Europe's planned battery cell manufacturing capacity is at risk of being delayed, scaled down or canceled because of factors including permitting delays and the allure of US subsidies (Link)

- American Lithium Energy secures $13.2 million in grants from the California Energy Commission to build pilot lithium-ion manufacturing facility aimed at zero-emission vehicles (Link)

Energy Storage Systems (and Virtual Power Plants)

- Our Next Energy to build $500M battery storage system manufacturing facility in Jackson County (Link)

- Shifted Energy is tapping water heaters in lower-income communities to create virtual power plants that help balance the grid, starting in Hawaii (Link)

- Smartville received $5.9 million from the Department of Energy to scale its second-life battery program (Link)

Charging Infrastructure

- Blink Charging states that the U.S. needs 20x more EV charging stations by 2030 (Link)

Policy

- European Union and the United States are working on a deal to make EV minerals eligible for tax credits (Link)

- Indonesia will provide incentives to boost sales of electric vehicles (EVs) starting March 20, as part of efforts to accelerate adoption and attract investment from companies like Tesla (Link)

Edited by Mouda A.