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Transmission

Global battery markets with Iola Hughes (Head of Research @ Rho Motion)

Dec 5, 2024
Iola Hughes, Head of Research at Rho Motion, specializes in battery demand insights. She discusses the dramatic drop in battery cell prices and the implications of potential U.S. tariffs on imports. The conversation highlights the competition faced by European manufacturers, particularly Northvolt's challenges. Hughes also delves into emerging technologies like sodium-ion batteries and contrasts their benefits with traditional lithium-ion cells. Finally, they analyze the evolving electric vehicle market against the backdrop of stationary energy storage growth.
42:39

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The significant disparity in battery costs between the US and China is largely driven by higher labor and supply chain expenses, exacerbated by tariffs.
  • Emerging battery technologies like sodium-ion and flow batteries hold promise for future applications, complementing the growth in both EV and stationary storage markets.

Deep dives

Impact of Tariffs on Battery Imports to the US

Current tariffs on batteries imported into the US stand at 7.5%, with plans for a significant increase that could bring the total tariff to around 40%. This increase includes an additional 25% tariff as well as a 10% tariff specifically on imports from China. Such elevated tariffs could drastically alter the cost dynamics for battery manufacturers and consumers alike, with major players like Tesla managing to maintain profit margins despite these external pressures. However, it's important to note that these added costs may eventually be transferred to developers and consumers, leading to higher prices in the market.

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