The European commission has announced a new Battery action Plan, which seeks to address the inability of EU member states to mass-produce batteries for electric automobiles (EVs).
Chinese and Korean companies currently dominate the EV battery market, with firms like LG, Samsung, CATL and SK advancement surging ahead as electric automobiles get traction with consumers. Tesla’s $5 billion Gigafactory in Nevada, meanwhile, is set to make America a severe player in the market, nearly doubling global battery production when it opens in 2020.
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European services could soon challenge those companies, however, after European commission chiefs confirmed an EU Battery action plan will “establish competitive, innovative and sustainable battery manufacturing projects” in EU countries.
The plan follows the founding of a European Battery alliance in October last year, and aims to safe access to raw battery materials (like cobalt and lithium) from countries outside the EU. The plan will also supply training and skill support for battery engineers and technicians in Europe, and forge corporate partnerships between EU companies.
Other aims include the securing of funding mechanisms, new battery sustainability and recycling projects, and the streamlining of EU guidelines surrounding EV batteries. The commission considers “Europe has what it takes to become a world leader in sustainable battery technology.”
