CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, is considering building a localized plant on US soil, but there’s a big “if.” The company’s chairman said he is open to erecting a US battery facility if President-elect Donald Trump paves the way, despite escalating a trade war with China during his first term.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited, better known as CATL, has been the largest battery manufacturer in the world by global market share for most of the last decade. The company specializes in a portfolio of battery cells with different chemistries and energy storage solutions and remains on the pulse of emerging technologies such as solid-state.
The company has developed fast-charging LFP cells for OEMs like SAIC-GM and, in the past couple of years, has begun developing battery technology for zero-emission aviation, including electric planes and eVTOLs with companies like AutoFlight.
Having already outgrown operations in China alone, CATL had previously shared plans for six new facilities in other countries, including Germany, Thailand, Hungary, Indonesia, and two in the US (with Ford and Tesla). The latter two of that list are expected to operate under licensing deals.
This past May, CATL shared intentions to erect two additional battery plants – One in Spain through a joint venture with Stellantis and a fully-owned battery cathode materials facility in Morocco, to supply those vital components to its pending European plants mentioned above.
While CATL has had plenty of plans for entry into the US, it has faced opposition from Democrats and Republicans alike due to its government-subsidized operations. The Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act echoed such sentiments, and Trump himself waged an all-out trade war with China during his last run in the White House.
With Trump set to take office in 2025, CATL’s chairman expressed hope that the door to US manufacturing would be cracked open a little more, but it will take the full support of the President-elect to happen. That’s a tall order for a Chinese company with an impressive grip on the battery market.
CATL chairman open to Chinese investment in US supplies
Originally, when we wanted to invest in the US, the US government said no. For me, I’m really open-minded.
CATL’s imports are currently facing some trade protections to keep things fair for local automakers, hence why many current EV models don’t qualify for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, even if the cars are assembled in the US. Before Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), President Trump targeted several Chinese OEMs like CATL due to their government subsidies while citing national security concerns.
However, the President-elect appears open to companies like CATL bringing battery production to the US under certain conditions. Per an interview with Reuters this past August:
We’re going to give incentives, and if China and other countries want to come here and sell the cars, they’re going to build plants here, and they’re going to hire our workers.
That may sound like a refreshing idea from the ever-polarizing Trump. Still, he’s merely echoing the policies already laid out by his predecessor in the IRA – a measure already enacted to bring more production and jobs to US workers. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This will be a story to watch as the torch is passed in the White House. Trump’s re-election has created more questions than answers about the future of EV production in the US, but it’s hard to imagine local OEMs finding as much success without a behemoth like CATL nearby.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
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