Germany has started hush-hush talks with EU leaders aimed at relaxing state-aid rules so the government can pump cash into launching of a national battery cell production programme, BEST Battery Briefing has learned.
BBB understands Germany wants to set a faster pace of progress for Europe’s ‘Batteries Alliance’— with Berlin in the driving seat.
The move comes just weeks after car giant BMW signed a deal to receive electric vehicle batteries from an Asian supplier because it “could not wait” for Europe to build a battery cells industry.
A spokesperson for Germany’s federal economic affairs and energy ministry (BMWi) told BBB officials are “exploring possibilities for the establishment of battery cell production in Germany and are in discussions with all those involved”.
The spokesperson declined to comment on details, but confirmed discussions “also concern the question of possible support from the federal government— although decisions have not yet been made”.
“We cannot comment on the talks. We are in close exchange with all participants at national and European level,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the minister in charge at the BMWi, Peter Altmaier, has invited key international players from industry, research and politics to Berlin in November to an “electro mobility forum for networking and exchange of expertise”— but the ministry said the forum would also seek to “initiate transnational cooperation”.
BBB reported earlier this year that Germany was dipping into an economic aid fund to support the constructionof a battery cells factory in the country by Chinese lithium giant Contemporary Amperex Technology.
