Senators urge US to take steps to boost battery production, citing China’s dominance
- Democrats Mark Warner and Joe Manchin noted that China accounts for more than 75 per cent of battery cell production
- Senators said the US must become a leader in manufacturing batteries and battery components, citing China’s decision to restrict exports of graphite
Two influential Democratic US senators urged the Energy Department to take steps to boost US battery manufacturing, citing China’s dominance and recent Chinese export controls imposed, according to a letter seen by Reuters.
Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Mark Warner and Energy Committee chairman Joe Manchin cited experts saying that the United States is “10 to 20 years behind Asia in commercialisation of battery technology,” and noted that China accounts for more than 75 per cent of battery cell production.
“The US must become a leader in manufacturing batteries and battery components, while securing our supply chains for the materials that make up those components,” the senators wrote in a previously unreported letter seen by Reuters, citing China’s decision last month to restrict exports of graphite, critical to manufacturing battery anodes.
China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite – the single largest component.
The letter noted in 2022 the United States produced less than 10 per cent of lithium-ion batteries in 2022 and said demand is expected to grow over seven times by 2035.
The letter wants a committee briefing by December 1 “on ongoing research and development of next-generation battery technologies.”