Biden wants to create millions of clean-energy jobs. China and Europe are way ahead of him.
Jeanne Whalen, The Washington Post
Feb. 11, 2021
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Robots work on Model X cars in the Tesla factory in Fremont, Calif., in 2018.Photo for The Washington Post by Mason Trinca
As the Biden administration promises to jump-start the clean-energy economy, it faces an uphill climb: The United States has fallen behind Asia and Europe in the race to produce the central technology - the high-tech batteries that power electric cars and store solar and wind energy.
China dominates battery production today, with 93 gigafactories that manufacture lithium-ion battery cells, versus only four in the United States, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a prominent data provider. If current trends continue, China is projected to have 140 gigafactories by 2030, while Europe will have 17 and the United States, just 10.
As the Biden administration promises to jump-start the clean-energy economy, it faces an uphill climb: The United States has fallen behind Asia and Europe in the race to produce the central technology — the high-tech batteries that power electric cars and store solar and wind energy.
Who Will Tell the Greens There Is No Battery Fairy?
For the longest while I have been asking, “Where do environmentalists and Democrats think all these batteries for our oil-free transportation fleet are going to come from?” It seems they think there is a Battery Fairy out there somewhere who will magically supply the ginormous battery capacity, and additional supply of electricity to charge them, in order to deliver us to our blessed fossil-fuel-free future.
So kudos to
tradeoffs between various kinds of energy systems we might use:
Demand for lithium is increasing exponentially, and it doubled in price between 2016 and 2018. According to consultancy Cairn Energy Research Advisors, the lithium ion industry is expected to grow from 100 gigawatt hours (GWh) of annual production in 2017, to almost 800 GWhs in 2027. . .
Courtesy of Solid Power
Solid Power s 22-layer, 20Ah all solid-state lithium metal cell compared to the company s first-generation 10-layer, 2Ah cell.
Doug Campbell is on a mission to harden the hearts of electric cars.
The co-founder and CEO of Solid Power has spent the last eight years developing a new kind of battery for carmakers. If it works, the Louisville, Colorado-based company could help overcome two major roadblocks to electric cars. According to a recent survey, U.S. consumers worry the cars are too expensive and could run out of power between charging stations.
“What our technology does is it improves range and lowers vehicle cost,” Campbell said. “It’s as simple as that.”