The dominance of China within the EV battery provide chain has raised considerations in regards to the geopolitical dangers related to the reliance on one nation for important minerals and battery expertise. As Chinese language corporations management over 70% of lithium-ion battery manufacturing and almost all phases of the EV battery provide chain, this reliance on China places america at a drawback in selling clear power and lowering carbon emissions. It’s one thing that liberal democracies must do, but when not finished fastidiously, it may well put us able the place intolerant authoritarian states can name the photographs.

To cut back this dependency, america must concentrate on increasing its home manufacturing capability for EV batteries. This is not going to solely create jobs but additionally result in the event of a safe and sustainable provide chain. By growing onshore manufacturing of EV batteries, america may also lower the geopolitical dangers related to the reliance on China for minerals equivalent to lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, affecting many industries outdoors of batteries and cleantech.

And this isn’t simply a tutorial concern. Prior to now, China has used its management over these minerals to realize leverage in geopolitical disputes. As an example, China withheld shipments of uncommon earth minerals to Japan throughout a dispute over islands within the East China Sea. Equally, in 2021, China halted exports of uncommon earth minerals to america, sparking considerations for the US financial and navy safety.

Due to this fact, onshore manufacturing of EV batteries is not going to solely lower reliance on China and mitigate geopolitical dangers but additionally result in the event of a cleaner, greener, and extra sustainable future for america.

However, getting there isn’t simple, and it’s not one thing america and allies can do on their very own. It’s going to take a cooperative method to expertise and assets, with some international locations having extra of 1 than the opposite.

The President of KIAT (Korean Institute for Development of Expertise), Vice Chairman of KBIA (Korean Battery Trade Affiliation), President of KETI (Korean Electronics Expertise Institute), and Govt Director of NAATBatt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This MoU goals to facilitate the onshoring of Korean battery producers in america.

The signing befell on the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, along side the intergovernmental assembly between US President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Ye. QAD, a member of the NAATBatt Affiliation, performed a pivotal position within the MoU. QAD’s Head of EV and Mobility, Andreas Bareid, serves as a Co-Chairman of the NAATBatt Onshoring Committee and Board Member.

“Korean corporations immediately are world main specialists inside manufacturing of lithium primarily based batteries,” mentioned James Greenberger, founder and govt director of NAATBatt. “If we wish to construct a vibrant North American provide chain for lithium primarily based batteries as shortly as potential, we have to use one of the best obtainable manufacturing expertise to realize this. At the moment, this expertise is essentially with Korean corporations. Therefore we must always combine these Korean specialists and corporations to be a part of that provide chain and the North American enterprise neighborhood.”

The onshoring of Korean battery producers within the US will assist the nation cut back its dependence on international sources of EV batteries and the dangers that include it. This partnership can even promote job creation, financial development, and sustainable and safe provide chains. The MoU displays the willingness of each governments to work intently collectively to strengthen the USA’s home manufacturing capabilities within the inexperienced power sector.

The NAATBatt (Nationwide Alliance for Superior Expertise Batteries) Onshoring Committee is among the affiliation’s fastest-growing committees. Its major focus is on connecting international battery business associations with NAATBatt members and supporting their members in establishing enterprise relationships with the group. The committee’s major goal is to offer entry to NAATBatt’s helpful assets, thus guaranteeing integration and sharing of data.

“We’re excited to construct the bridge between the educated Korean battery corporations and the US, for all components of the battery provide chain,” mentioned Bareid. “Working collectively, by joint ventures, partnerships and enterprise relations between our members, is the one manner we will obtain speedy pace to learn. To additional make sure the adoption of EV, it’s vital for onshoring corporations to ascertain manufacturing and produce the yield envisaged and required by the Inflation Discount Act. QAD helps the incoming onshoring corporations with speedy pace to institution and scale to handle their provide chain.”

In preparation for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate the onshoring of Korean battery producers in america, QAD sponsored a dinner on the Conrad Washington DC Resort. The dinner was hosted by NAATBatt, and attendees included members of each Korean and US Battery Associations, authorities officers, and representatives from a number of key US OEMs, battery makers, and suppliers.

Among the many attendees have been representatives from GM, Airgas, Amphenol, P3, Polaris, and Clarios. This occasion supplied a possibility for these concerned to community, alternate concepts, and set up relationships that can promote job creation, financial development, and safe and sustainable provide chains within the inexperienced power sector.

QAD’s involvement in sponsoring the dinner underscores its dedication to advancing the event of the EV battery business within the US. As one of many members of the NAATBatt Affiliation, QAD has performed a pivotal position in selling onshoring efforts and establishing relationships between US corporations and their Asian counterparts.

Total, the dinner hosted by NAATBatt, and sponsored by QAD, was an important step in the direction of establishing a sturdy and environmentally sustainable EV battery business in america.

Whereas Korean corporations are inclined to have the expertise, america has a number of uncooked supplies that may very well be introduced into the image, together with these of allies in Canada, Australia, and Europe. This places Korea in a great place to play a pivotal position in serving to an alliance of liberal democracies keep their place within the international automotive, clear expertise, and clear power markets. By preserving allies working collectively, QAD and its companions usually are not solely serving to enhance entry to battery expertise, but additionally serving to maintain freedom alive.

Featured picture: QAD’s Andreas Bareid, NAATBatt’s James Greenberger and others on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the US and South Korea. Picture supplied by QAD.