batteries

Regulators in the US have warned a major shake-up of safety standards may be needed for home battery storage systems in the wake of an explosion at a lithium-ion grid-scale battery storage facility in Arizona.

The Arizona Public Service (APS) utility told BEST Battery Briefing an investigation into what caused the “catastrophic failure” of the 2MW/2MWh system at its McMicken facility last month in the city of Surprise was still under way.

Chinese and Korean battery makers have signed deals to secure the “multi-billon-dollar” long-term supply of electric vehicle batteries for Swedish car firm Volvo.

Volvo said today the agreements with Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and LG Chem would ensure supplies of lithium-ion batteries over the coming decade for its next-generation Volvo and Polestar models.

US lawmakers are backing draft legislation aimed at cutting the country’s “damaging” dependence on imports of materials, including those “critical”  to expanding battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) technology.

A bipartisan group of senators say the American Mineral Security Act is needed to help reduce reliance on countries such as China. 

The US-based batteries business formerly known as Johnson Controls Power Solutions has been relaunched as Clarios— with a pledge to further invest in its lead-acid and lithium products.

Power Solutions was acquired by US and Canadian investment firms Brookfield Business Partners and CDPQ last year.

The UK chemical supply chain for battery manufacture could “capture a £4.8 billion (US$6.2bn) per annum market share” by 2030, meeting the needs of UK-built vehicles alone, according to a new report.

The report said its forecast was based on the “strong foundation of UK-based companies already embedded within many global battery supply chains”.