As much as I wish CATL can move into sodium ion batteries next year, we're still likely a few years away from industrial scale development in sodium batteries; I'd be happy if they're as ubiquitous as LFP batteries by 2025. Sodium batteries has a massive advantage in cost (30-40%) lithium, sodium itself is 2000 times more abundant in the earth's crust than lithium, plus they have far superior cold weather performance (-20C) and faster charging (15-min).
New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) in China
- Thread starter supercat
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CATL began small-scale commercial deployment of sodium-ion battery cells in July 2021 and plans to ramp up the sodium-ion supply chain through to 2023. CATL says its first generation of sodium-ion cells achieve a gravimetric energy density of 160Wh/kg. 6 Oct 2021
ARNSTADT, Germany, April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 4, Contemporary Amperex Technology Thuringia GmbH (CATT), CATL's first plant outside of China, received the 2nd partial approval for the commissioning of a new plant for battery cell production from the state of Thuringia, Germany, marking a significant milestone for CATL's global footprint expansion despite the pandemic.
(PRNewsfoto/CATL)
(PRNewsfoto/CATL)
At the ceremony held in CATT at the Erfurter Kreuz industrial area, Anja Siegesmund, Thuringia's Minister of Environment, Energy and Nature Conservation, and Wolfgang Tiefensee, Thuringia's Minister of Economy, handed over the permit to Matthias Zentgraf, CATL's President for Europe, allowing an initial capacity of 8 GWh per year for the plant.
The construction of the plant, which is also Germany's first battery factory, is in the final stage and the installation of machines is in full swing so that the first cells can roll off the assembly lines by the end of 2022.
"CATT provides a fundamental impetus for the urgently needed energy transition, and we are glad to be the first company to receive approval to manufacture batteries 'Made in Germany'," said Zentgraf, adding that the cooperation with the authorities during the approval process worked in an exemplary manner.
E-mobility in Germany is currently gaining immense momentum, and the state needs companies that are committed to taking sustainability and conservation into account right from the production stage, said Siegesmund.
"For Thuringia, CATT is one of the most important industrial investments in recent decades," said Tiefensee. "At the same time, the project could be the initial spark for the emergence of a 'Battery Valley Thuringia,' as the first batch of CATL's supplier companies have settled around the area."
CATT consists of two buildings: G1, an existing building purchased from another company and where cells are assembled to modules, and G2, a newly-built plant by CATT and where cells will be produced. The approval on Monday was issued to permit cell production of G2.
With clean rooms, technical cleanliness and constant humidity, the plant is almost as complex as a chip factory. Meanwhile, the plant generates part of its power from the solar power panels on the rooftop of the building in an effort to produce sustainably.
CATL broke ground on its German plant in 2019, and it is scheduled to start cell production by the end of 2022, when a total of 1,500 jobs will be created in Germany.
With a total investment of 1.8 billion euro, CATL plans to achieve a production capacity of 14GWh and create 2,000 jobs in Germany in the future.
Located at the heart of Germany, the plant is poised to provide high-quality products and services for major carmakers in Germany, thus promoting the electric mobility and energy transformation in Europe.
Any import taxes when importing cars into Korea?
broadsword
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supercat
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At least 255 GWh of BYD battery factories in the pipeline:
One source estimates that BYD will sell 1.49 million units in 2022 in China, while Tesla will sell 0.8 million in China;
One source estimates that BYD will sell 1.49 million units in 2022 in China, while Tesla will sell 0.8 million in China;
This is the kind of things I'm talking about in terms of where to build factories and where not to.
CATL building factory in Germany is a good thing, because they have a huge market and are not big in battery manufacturing. Building factory there will likely help increase CATL market share in European cars and possibly even open doors for more Chinese EV exports to Germany and surrounding countries. This kind of stuff is unlikely to hurt Chinese manufacturing. It is also a great thing for China's image to be seen as building high quality/technology product. It has halo effect around other Chinese exports.
And similarly, I think China should encourage CATL/BYD and other companies to build battery factories and auto factories in countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia to raise the public perception of Chinese high tech exports. They are unlikely to hurt China's global competitiveness.
China should look to crush battery and car manufacturers in Korea and Japan like they crushed them in shipbuilding.
CATL building factory in Germany is a good thing, because they have a huge market and are not big in battery manufacturing. Building factory there will likely help increase CATL market share in European cars and possibly even open doors for more Chinese EV exports to Germany and surrounding countries. This kind of stuff is unlikely to hurt Chinese manufacturing. It is also a great thing for China's image to be seen as building high quality/technology product. It has halo effect around other Chinese exports.
And similarly, I think China should encourage CATL/BYD and other companies to build battery factories and auto factories in countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia to raise the public perception of Chinese high tech exports. They are unlikely to hurt China's global competitiveness.
China should look to crush battery and car manufacturers in Korea and Japan like they crushed them in shipbuilding.
Also, every Chinese battery sold in Germany is one less battery demand for any potential EU competitor.
Tesla is trying to build, make their own battery.
The EV market is moving way more quickly than I (or even the chinese government) had expected. They set a target of 20% penetration by 2025 and apparently latest industry prediction is over 30% penetration by end of this year. Imagine 3 in 10 new cars sold in the world's largest car market is electric.
I also love that BYD's new designs are becoming more mature and less scifi looking. The BYD Seal looks really good. It's honestly the first EV I would consider buying
I also love that BYD's new designs are becoming more mature and less scifi looking. The BYD Seal looks really good. It's honestly the first EV I would consider buying