The U.S. is behind Asia and Europe on battery manufacturing—but the push is on to change that

Ten years later, Lampe-Önnerud is back. As CEO of Cadenza Innovation, she is part of Li-Bridge, a public-private partnership, convened by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by Argonne National Laboratory, with the purpose of creating a robust manufacturing base and supply chain for lithium-ion batteries in the United States.

Is it too late? James Greenberger, executive director of NAATBatt International—one of three industry trade groups spearheading the initiative—says that in terms of battery manufacturing, the U.S. Is “10 to 20 years behind Asia” and “five years behind Europe.” But it’s a testament to the power of the hundreds of billions of dollars of stimulus in the Inflation Reduction Act that the group now thinks the U.S. Has a chance to play. “Most of us had to exit our companies to Asia,” says Lampe-Önnerud. “I think it is pretty cool that the United States is saying now, we are going to be a part of this economy and take advantage of the knowledge that we have.”

The group is releasing a report this morning with 26 recommended actions to bolster the domestic lithium-ion battery industry, stretching across the supply chain—starting with a “buying consortium” to ensure a reliable supply of raw materials and ending with a national recycling plan for batteries. In short, it is a clearly-articulated industrial policy—designed to get the U.S. Back into a business it started. Will it work? Who knows. But with the combination of a clear national strategy, a shipload of money, and talented American entrepreneurs like Lampe-Önnerud, it just might. “I never give up,” she says.

You can read the full report this morning here. Other news below. 

Alan Murray
@alansmurray
[email protected]

This article was updated on Feb. 15 to correct which government department has convened the partnership.

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This edition of CEO Daily was edited by David Meyer.