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US Senators Urge Boost in Domestic Battery Production, Citing China’s 10-20 Year Lead in the Industry

Senators Warner and Manchin lobby for increased next-gen battery tech, urging a focus on "alternative chemistries" to reduce reliance on Chinese minerals, following China's tight control on global EV battery supply chain and dominance in graphite production.

Overview

  • US Senators Mark Warner and Joe Manchin are rallying efforts to boost domestic battery production and lessen dependence on Chinese minerals, following revelations that China has a 10-20 year lead in battery technology.
  • China holds more than 75% of the world's battery cell production, and tight control over the global supply chain, including 90% of graphite refining, essential for creating lithium-ion batteries.
  • In comparison, the US produced less than 10% of lithium-ion batteries in 2022. However, the demand for these batteries is projected to surge manifold due to the expanding EV industry – from 700 GWh in 2022 to about 4.7 TWh by 2030.
  • Warner and Manchin urge the US to focus on the development and procurement of innovative, next-gen battery technologies and 'alternative chemistries' that could rely less on Chinese minerals.
  • The senators also emphasized the importance of domestically produced batteries and energy storage technologies for national security, with lithium-ion batteries playing crucial roles in numerous military systems.