Ford to Use Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries for the First Time as it Aims to Produce 600,000 EVs a Year in 2023, Sets Up Global Supply Chain

​As the world’s automakers make plans to produce millions of electric vehicles, sourcing the raw materials for the batteries needed to power all of these vehicles remains a high priority. Ford Motor Co says its will use new EV battery chemistries and secured contracts for 60 gigawatt hours (GWh) of annual battery capacity to deliver 600,000 EV globally by late 2023. It would make Ford the second-largest U.S.-based producer of electric vehicles behind Tesla.

Eric Walz2022-10-28 09:41 PT

Tesla’s Battery Supplier Panasonic is Working on New EV Battery Technology That Can Boost Range by 20%

Tesla’s battery supplier Panasonic says it's working on new technology that can improve a battery’s energy density and boost EV range by 20 percent. If Panasonic achieves its goal, it could boost the range of the Tesla Model 3 for example, by 100 km (62 miles), without increasing the size of the battery pack.

Eric Walz2022-08-19 13:10 PT

Tesla Rival NIO Plans to Produce its Own EV Battery Packs to Improve Profitability

Electric vehicle startup NIO Inc, which is emerging as one of Tesla’s biggest competitors in China, plans to produce its own electric vehicle batteries as a way to boost profitability and competitiveness in the growing EV segment. NIO’s plans to produce its own batteries were shared by company Chairman William Li on a call with analysts on Thursday.

FutureCar Staff 2022-07-17 12:00 PT

Tesla’s Battery Supplier Panasonic is Close to Selecting the Site of its New U.S. Battery Plant

In March, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that Panasonic Corp was looking to purchase land in the United States for a "mega-factory" that will churn out advanced electric vehicle batteries for electric automaker Tesla. Now after two months, the Japanese company is reportedly close to selecting which U.S. state will be the home of its new factory.

FutureCar Staff 2022-07-10 12:10 PT

Panasonic is Looking to Purchase Land in the U.S. to Build a 'Mega-Factory' to Produce EV Batteries for Tesla

Japan's Panasonic Corp is looking to purchase land in the United States for a “mega-factory” that will churn out advanced electric vehicle batteries for electric automaker Tesla, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK reported on Friday. According to NHK, Panasonic is considering sites in either Oklahoma or Kansas, which will be close to Tesla’s new EV factory under construction in Austin, Texas, which is scheduled to open on April 7.

Eric Walz2022-04-10 16:15 PT

EV Startup Fisker Inc. Secures a Long-term Battery Supply Deal With China’s CATL

​California-based electric vehicle startup Fisker Inc. and Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (“CATL”) today announced a formal agreement to supply batteries for the upcoming Fisker Ocean electric SUV. Under the terms of the agreement, CATL will supply two different battery types for the Fisker Ocean SUV, with an initial battery capacity of over 5 GWh annually, from 2023 through 2025.

Eric Walz2021-12-09 08:40 PT

The Apple Car Project Has Reportedly Stalled Due to Unreasonable Demands Put on Chinese Battery Suppliers CATL & BYD

Apple Inc’s secretive Apple Car project has hit another roadblock after talks with Chinese battery suppliers Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) and BYD have stalled, Reuters reported on Friday. The computer giant was in talks with both battery suppliers to supply the batteries for Apple’s electric car project, but the California company’s unreasonable demands on the two companies have caused negotiations to break down.

FutureCar Staff 2021-11-28 13:35 PT

Commercial Vehicle Startup Electric Last Mile Solutions Inc. Announces Battery Supply Agreement with China’s CATL

Michigan-based commercial electric vehicle startup Electric Last Mile Solutions Inc. (ELMS) has announced a battery supply agreement with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) for its electric vans designed for last mile delivery. CATL is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of electric vehicle batteries to the auto industry.

Eric Walz2021-11-20 06:55 PT

Tesla’s Battery Supplier CATL to Start Production of Sodium-ion EV Batteries Next Year

Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL), which is a major supplier of batteries to automakers Tesla, Volkswagen and many others, said it will put a sodium-ion battery production line into operation by next year. The company’s plans were shared by Meng Xiangfeng, assistant to chairman of CATL, at a recent industrial conference in China focused on carbon neutrality.

Eric Walz2021-10-28 14:25 PT

Toyota to Invest $13.5 Billion in Electric Vehicle Battery Development by 2030

​Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp is making a massive investment in electric vehicle battery technologies. The automaker announced on Tuesday that it is investing up to $13.5 billion to develop advanced battery technologies for its future lineup of electrified vehicles. Toyota’s ongoing development of batteries is also designed to reduce the battery costs per vehicle by 50% by the second half of the 2020s.

Eric Walz2021-10-14 13:35 PT

Battery Maker Panasonic Sells its Entire Stake in Tesla for $3.6 Billion

Tesla’s battery partner Panasonic Corp quietly sold its stake in the company at the end of March, a spokesperson for the Japanese company told Reuters on Friday. Panasonic's Tesla shares were worth about 400 billion yen ($3.61 billion).

FutureCar Staff 2021-08-01 09:00 PT

Apple in Talks to Build an EV Battery Factory in the U.S. with Chinese Battery Makers, Reports Say

Reuters reports that computer giant Apple Inc is in early-stage talks with Chinese EV battery manufacturers Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) and BYD to build a battery factory in the U.S. that could supply batteries for the secretive Apple Car project dubbed “Project Titan.”

Eric Walz2021-07-15 15:45 PT

China's Yahua Agrees to a Five-year Deal to Supply Lithium to Tesla for EV Batteries

China’s Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group Co Ltd said on Tuesday it had signed a deal to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Tesla for the next five years. The deal would give Tesla a steady supply of lithium, a key ingredient for electric vehicle batteries in the world’s biggest auto market.

FutureCar Staff 2021-02-04 11:05 PT

Tesla Will Start Using Cobalt-Free Batteries for its China-Built Model 3, Reports Say

Tesla is ready to start building some Model 3 vehicles in China equipped with more affordable cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, two people familiar with the matter said. In June, Tesla received government approval to build its Model 3s in China using the LFP batteries.

Eric Walz2020-11-06 11:05 PT

Mercedes Benz is Strengthening its Alliance with China’s CATL for the Development of Electric Vehicle Batteries

Mercedes Benz announced on Wednesday it will strengthen its alliance with Chinese battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL). The automaker is counting on CATL to deliver battery packs capable of providing its future electric vehicles with at least a 435 mile (700 km) range, as well as offering faster recharging times.

Eric Walz2020-09-12 15:00 PT

Panasonic Plans to Boost the Power of Tesla’s Vehicle Batteries by 20% in the Next 5 Years

Japan’s Panasonic Corp., which is electric automaker’s Tesla’s exclusive battery partner in the U.S., is planning to boost the energy of its batteries by 20% over the next five years, the head of its U.S. battery business announced on Thursday.

FutureCar Staff 2020-09-05 15:05 PT

Tesla’s Recent Stock Surge Has Also Helped its Battery Supplier LG Chem

As a result of Tesla’s incredible stock surge, shares of South Korean battery maker LG Chem, have also risen by 60% this year to a valuation of about US$30 billion, becoming the sixth-largest stock on the benchmark The Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI). Part of LG Chem’s stock surge can be attributed to the deal to supply batteries to the electric automaker.

Derrick Smith2020-08-28 08:15 PT

Honda. Motor Co Invests in Battery Maker CATL, Will Jointly Develop EV Batteries

Honda announced today it will buy a 1% stake in Chinese electric vehicle (EV) battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL). The two companies will jointly develop batteries for Honda's future EVs.

FutureCar Staff 2020-08-16 13:00 PT

Tesla Planning a New U.S. Battery Factory as Part of its ‘Roadrunner’ Project

​Electric automaker Tesla is reportedly planning to build a new battery research and manufacturing facility in the U.S., as part of its secretive "Roadrunner" project, according to documents filed in California.

FutureCar Staff 2020-08-01 09:00 PT

Tesla To Hold its Battery Day on Sept 15th, Elon Musk Touts it as ‘One of the Most of Exciting Days in Tesla’s History’

​Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk has been hinting at a new game-changing battery technology since last year. Musk wrote in a tweet on Sunday night that September 15th is the tentative date for Tesla’s much anticipated “Battery Day”, at which the electric-car maker is expected to reveal significant advances in its EV battery technology.

Eric Walz2020-07-29 13:00 PT