Interchange Recharged

Navigating the world after OB3: implications for innovation and local manufacturing | Sponsored content from Hithium - Recorded Live at the PowerUp Stage at RE+

Sep 16, 2025
Ryan Chen, Chief of Staff at Hithium, and Neil Bradshaw, Director of Global Applications Engineering, delve into the fallout of recent OB3 policies on the U.S. manufacturing landscape. They discuss how these policies ripple through supply chains, impacting everything from battery production to overall innovation. Ryan reveals Hithium’s bold investments in Texas manufacturing, while Neil highlights the challenges faced by U.S. manufacturers reliant on imports. They also explore AI's role in driving demand for energy storage and the complexities of compliance with ever-evolving safety standards.
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INSIGHT

Policy Risk Can Sink Domestic Makers

  • Policy shifts can bankrupt domestic manufacturers that still rely on imported parts.
  • Neil Bradshaw warns that changing import rules can suddenly make businesses unviable and collapse supply chains.
ADVICE

Invest In True Manufacturing Scale

  • Build true scale rather than small assembly-only operations to compete with efficient overseas manufacturers.
  • Ryan Chen describes investing in a full-scale Texas factory before securing offtake agreements to show commitment.
INSIGHT

Bring Full Practices, Not Just Equipment

  • Transferring full manufacturing practices speeds localization beyond simple assembly.
  • Ryan Chen highlights autonomous container movers as an example of bringing Chinese-scale practices to Texas.
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