US to invest almost $3 billion in battery supply chain

The US Department of Energy has announced funding of 2.91 billion dollars to develop a national battery supply chain – including for electric vehicles. This makes another e-mobility funding from the infrastructure bill concrete.

++ This article has been updated. Kindly continue reading below. ++

The funding from the bipartisan Infrastructure Act is to support production facilities for battery materials, battery cells and packs, recycling facilities, and second-life applications for batteries, according to the Department of Energy. Two Memoranda of Understanding were published for this purpose. Accordingly, the funding programmes are to start in the coming months.

With the equivalent of about 2.6 billion euros, the government of US President Joe Biden wants to ensure “that the United States can produce batteries and the materials they contain to increase economic competitiveness, energy independence and national security”.

The first MOU includes support for new, retrofitted or expanded “domestic facilities for battery recycling and the production of battery materials, cell components and battery manufacturing”. The second MOU supports projects around research, development and demonstration of second-life applications for batteries. Both statements are linked below this article.

“As electric cars and trucks continue to grow in popularity within the United States and around the world, we must seize the chance to make advanced batteries — the heart of this growing industry — right here at home,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re making it possible to establish a thriving battery supply chain in the United States.”

A few days ago, the US Department of Transportation and Energy had already announced that it would provide nearly five billion US dollars over five years to build charging infrastructure.

Update 03 May 2022

The US Department of Energy has announced the launch of the funding programmes announced in February for the development of a national battery supply chain for electric vehicles. The programmes “Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing” and “Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling and Second Life Applications” will be funded by the US government with a total of 3.1 billion dollars – almost 200 million dollars more than initially announced. That is the equivalent of 2.95 billion euros.

“By positioning the United States front and centre to meet the growing demand for advanced batteries, we are increasing our competitiveness and electrifying our transportation system,” says US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s historic investment in battery production and recycling will give our domestic supply chain the boost it needs to become safer and less dependent on other nations – strengthening our clean energy economy, creating good-paying jobs and decarbonising the transportation sector.”

energy.gov (announcement), energy.gov (battery production & recycling), energy.gov (Second life cases), energy.gov (update)