LITHIUM BATTERY FACTORY
How one of the world's strongest car unions is dealing with EV job losses
Toyota in Japan and Hyundai or Kia in South Korea navigate challenges from technological transformation and electrification.
Ola Electric to invest $100 mn in first phase of Gigafactory, says Bhavish Aggarwal
Ola Electric, the electric vehicle manufacturer, plans to invest $100 million in the first phase of building its Gigafactory for producing lithium-ion battery cells. The investment will be used for 'phase 1A' of the Gigafactory, which will set up 1.5 GWh of cell manufacturing capacity. The aim is to expand capacity to 5 GWh in 'phase 1B'.
Ola Electric to invest $100 million in gigafactory
Ola Electric founder Bhavish Aggarwal said is developing a 4680 form of battery cells, which is more energy-dense and advanced than the 2170 form of battery cells it currently sources for its electric scooters.
South Korea begins search for answers after battery plant fire kills 22
Following a devastating fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea that claimed the lives of 22 workers with one still missing, urgent safety inspections have been ordered at high-risk industrial sites. The blaze, which erupted in a warehouse containing 35,000 lithium batteries, resulted in toxic smoke, likely causing the workers to lose consciousness and perish within seconds. The majority of the victims were temporary workers from China, prompting investigations into safety regulations and training practices for foreign laborers.
Fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea kills 22
A fire at a manufacturing factory in South Korea, likely caused by exploding lithium batteries, resulted in the death of 22 workers, mostly Chinese migrants, and injured 8 others. The incident occurred during battery examination and packaging, with nationalities of the victims including Chinese, South Korean, and Laotian. Authorities are investigating the blaze, while efforts continue to locate a missing worker and treat the injured.
The world needs more batteries — but not this many
The oversupply of battery factories being constructed globally is set to exceed the demand for lithium-ion cells in the coming years, according to a report by BloombergNEF. The surge in battery production is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage solutions. By the end of 2025, the global battery industry is projected to have the capacity to produce over five times the number of cells needed that year, creating a challenging situation for new entrants in the battery market.
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How China rose to lead the world in cars and solar panels
Heavy subsidies for industry, together with weak sales in China, have set the stage for an export boom, raising fears of factory job losses elsewhere
Few Chinese electric cars are sold in U.S., but industry fears a flood
American automakers expressed their approval of the Biden administration's decision on Tuesday to levy a 100% tariff on electric vehicles imported from China. They stated that these vehicles could undercut billions of dollars of investments made in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing facilities in the United States.
How China rose to lead the world in cars and solar panels
Top leaders in the United States and Europe have started urging China to reduce its exports to the world and boost its imports.
Elon Musk's diplomacy: Woo right-wing world leaders. Then benefit
Elon Musk strategically leverages his Twitter ownership to support right-wing heads of state like Javier Milei, Jair Bolsonaro, and Narendra Modi. His endorsements lead to corporate benefits for Tesla and SpaceX in Argentina, Brazil, and India.
Giant batteries are transforming the way the U.S. uses electricity
Power companies across the US are using large batteries, similar in size to shipping containers, to tackle the main drawback of renewable energy: the inconsistency of wind and solar availability.
China’s EV and solar exports are powering ahead as prices slide
All these numbers show why China’s factory capacity has quickly become the key faultline in a polarizing global economy.
Renault in advanced talks with partners to recycle batteries, says executive
Le constructeur automobile français Renault est en discussions avancées avec des partenaires potentiels pour extraire et recycler le lithium et d'autres métaux des batteries de véhicules électriques usagées. Renault vise à être le premier constructeur européen à recycler les batteries à grande échelle pour réutiliser des matériaux stratégiques.
How China came to dominate the world in solar energy
While the United States and Europe are trying to revive renewable energy production and help companies fend off bankruptcy, China is racing far ahead.
JSW Group to invest Rs 40000 crore in Odisha for EV and battery plant
JSW Group plans to invest $4.82 billion to establish electric vehicle and battery manufacturing projects in Odisha. The conglomerate, which formed a joint venture with China's SAIC Motor in November, aims to compete with domestic and international players in India's growing EV market. The government hopes to achieve a 30% share of electric car sales by 2023.
Amara Raja aims to start operating giga factory before end of 2025
In May last year, the company laid the foundation stone for its first giga factory in Mahbubnagar district in Telangana. It is for producing Lithium Cell and Battery Packs, with an ultimate capacity of up to 16 GWh and 5 GWh, respectively.
International Battery Company raises $35 million in RTP Global-led round
According to California-based IBC, the funding has enabled the company to make its 50-megawatt (MW) manufacturing facility in South Korea fully operational. It is already shipping batteries to clients in India.
Solid state: EV giants chase 'holy grail' of batteries
Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, said in June it had achieved a breakthrough in solid-state technology that addressed durability problems. It said it planned commercialisation in 2027-2028 of a battery with a range of 1,000 km and a charging time of 10 minutes.
Solution to pollution: Are electric cars ‘green’?
While demand for EVs is rising, India needs to ensure that this transition in transportation is truly green.
Austin, we have a problem! Tesla descends into battery hell
Tesla is still a long way off the production pace of its Cybertruck, and one of the main bottlenecks is the speed it can make the 4680 batteries used in the Cybertruck with its new dry-coating technology.
Austin, we have a problem! Tesla descends into battery hell
Sources told Reuters that Tesla is struggling to make batteries for its new pickup the Cybertruck. Tesla's Giga Texas factory is currently churning out 4680 battery cells at rate only sufficient to power about 24,000 Cybertrucks a year, or about a 10th of the required output, Reuters claimed.
Cement emission tech: How few things are harder in industrial sector
We already have the major solutions for electricity, with solar panels, wind turbines and lithium-ion batteries. Those batteries can also power EVs. There's still a lot to do. But the puzzle is starting to fall in place. The same can't be said about the industrial sector.
Himadri Speciality to invest Rs 4,800 cr for setting up Lithium-ion Battery components factory
Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd plans to invest Rs 4,800 crore over the next 5-6 years to establish a manufacturing facility for Lithium-ion Battery components. The facility will have a total annual production capacity of 200,000 tonnes. The investment will be primarily sourced from internal accruals and debt. Himadri aims to promote sustainability and reduce dependency on fossil fuels.
Is India's infrastructure ready to be electrified?
India is experiencing a significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) sales, with a 112% year-on-year increase in EV sales from April to September 2023. However, the country's lack of public charging infrastructure poses a challenge to the widespread adoption of EVs. India needs a minimum of 1.32 million charging stations by 2030 to meet the demand for EVs. Additionally, recycling EV batteries is crucial to extract valuable resources and reduce manufacturing costs. Companies like Log9, Tata Chemicals, and Attero Recycling are involved in lithium-ion battery recycling. The Indian government has also released draft regulations and provides export-driving schemes to promote battery recycling.
China’s lithium battery industry detrimental for its economy
China's investment in the lithium battery industry has led to an oversupply of batteries, causing smaller manufacturers to face closures. By 2025, China's battery manufacturers are expected to produce quadruple the demand from EV makers, resulting in an estimated production capacity twice the demand levels.
Indian EV cell maker Log9 flags production hit on delayed visas to Chinese experts
Log9 Materials, an Indian lithium-ion battery manufacturer, has warned that its production in Bengaluru could be affected due to the delay in the arrival of Chinese experts caused by the Indian government's delay in approving visa applications. Log9 depends on Chinese engineers to set up machinery and upgrade existing ones at its facility, and a delay in visas could hamper its production.
As US races head, Europe frets about battery factory subsidies
European carmakers are frantically trying to build the supply chains they need to churn out electric vehicles.
New faces will compete with Amara Raja in lithium-ion batteries for years to come: Vikramadithya Gourineni
India's Amara Raja Batteries is set to construct a commercial pilot plant and two-gigawatt hour manufacturing facility, among other facilities, as part of the first phase of its $1.3bn investment in battery cells. The company, which is targeting 60% domestic value addition within five years, predicts that technological innovations and the discovery of more critical materials will suppress the increased price of batteries to enable healthy discounting, and says it will remain dependent on raw material imports in the short term.
Tesla to build Shanghai factory to make Megapack batteries
The company began producing Model 3 cars in Shanghai in 2019 and now is capable of producing 22,000 units of cars per week. Tesla planned to expand the Gigafactory Shanghai, its most productive automaking plant, to add an annual capacity of 450,000 units, Reuters reported last May.
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