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LG Energy Option in talks with Chinese companies to make low-cost EV batteries for Europe

South Korea's LG Energy Option (LGES) is in talks with about three Chinese providers to produce lowcost electric vehicle batteries for Europe, a. senior executive stated, with competition set to intensify after. the EU slapped additional tariffs on Chinabuilt EVs.

LGES' potential collaborations come as the worldwide. EV market is coming to grips with a sharp slowdown in need, and. highlight growing pressure non-Chinese battery firms face from. automakers to lower prices to levels matching more affordable Chinese. rivals.

France's Renault stated this month that it would. include lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery innovation in its. strategies to standardize EVs, picking LGES and its Chinese competitor. CATL as partners to develop a supply chain in Europe.

The statement followed the European Commission's choice. in June to impose an additional tariff of approximately 38% on EVs imported. from China after a months-long anti-subsidy probe that has. prompted a flurry of financial investment promises by Chinese EV makers and. battery companies in Europe.

We are having talks with Chinese companies who will develop LFP. cathode with us and produce them for Europe, Wonjoon Suh,. leader of LGES' innovative automotive battery department, told. , declining to call the business.

We are considering various procedures, consisting of establishing. joint endeavors and signing long-term supply offers, he said,. including such a partnership ought to assist LGES lower its LFP battery. producing expenses to levels matching its Chinese rivals in. 3 years.

Cathode is the single most expensive component of an EV. battery and represent about a third of the total expense of a. battery cell.

China controls LFP cathode products globally and its. biggest producers are Hunan Yuneng New Energy Battery Product. , Shenzhen Dynanonic, Hubei Wanrun New. Energy Technology, according to battery market. tracker SNE Research study.

Most EV batteries today utilize one of two types of cathodes:. nickel-based or LFP.

Nickel-based cathodes, like those used in longer-range Tesla. models, are capable of saving more energy, but usage. costly products. LFP cathodes, popular with Chinese EV makers. like BYD, typically do not hold as much energy, however. they are much safer and tend to be more economical because they use. materials that are more abundant.

South Korean battery companies have actually focused on producing. nickel-based batteries and are now expanding into LFP battery. production that Chinese competitors control, pressed by automakers. aiming to broaden their item lineups to more inexpensive. designs.

Suh stated LGES is considering three places - Morocco,. Finland and Indonesia - to produce LFP cathodes with Chinese. firms for the European market.

LGES has been going over LFP battery supply deals with. automakers in the United States, Europe and Asia. But Europe has. more powerful demand for affordable EV designs, with the section. accounting for about half of the region's EV sales, higher than. in the U.S., he stated.

South Korean battery makers LGES, Samsung SDI,. and SK On, had a combined 50.5% share of the EV battery market. in Europe in the first 5 months of this year, with LGES'. share standing at 31.2%, according to SNE Research study. Chinese. battery competitors had a 47.1% market share in Europe, led by CATL. at 34.5%.

LGES has existing battery joint endeavors with General Motors. , Hyundai Motor, Stellantis and. Honda Motor at a time when EV sales development is slowing.

Suh stated the installation of some equipment required for. expansions could be delayed for as much as 2 years in contract. with the partners due to the need slowdown.

He anticipated EV need would recover in about 18 months in. Europe and two to three years in the United States, however would. depend in part on environment policies and other regulations.

(source: Reuters)