Energy Insider: Maersk-Owned Ports Operator Taps Chinese Tech for Decarbonization
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SVOLT boss warns Chinese battery makers on overseas expansion amid policy uncertainty
Chinese battery makers should exercise greater caution when building factories in Europe and the U.S. due to fast-shifting policy environments, Yang Hongxin, chairman and CEO of Chinese battery startup SVOLT Energy Technology Co. Ltd., warned. Yang told the World Power Battery Conference on Tuesday that regulatory uncertainty and sharply higher operating costs overseas pose major risks to Chinese companies planning global expansion. Yang revealed that BMW once proposed a large battery order contingent on SVOLT building a plant in Germany, but the company eventually walked away. “The cost of building a factory in Germany was simply too high — labor alone is five times more expensive than in China, and total costs would exceed domestic levels by about 50%,” he said.
Changan Auto executive urges caution over all-solid-state battery development
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- SVOLT's CEO warned Chinese battery makers about high costs and regulatory risks when expanding in Europe and the U.S.; SVOLT declined a BMW plant deal in Germany due to expenses.
- Changan Auto's executive cautioned that all-solid-state battery technology may not reach commercialization until after 2030, citing unresolved issues.
- CATL partnered with JD.com and GAC for a $6,900 battery-swapping EV, and China conditionally approved a major Codelco-SQM lithium joint venture.
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Who’s Who
- SVOLT Energy Technology Co. Ltd.
- SVOLT Energy Technology Co. Ltd. is a Chinese battery startup. Its chairman and CEO, Yang Hongxin, warned Chinese battery makers about policy uncertainty and high operating costs when expanding overseas, particularly in Europe and the U.S. SVOLT itself declined an order from BMW due to the prohibitive cost of building a factory in Germany.
- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd.
- Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Ltd. (Changan Auto) is a Chinese automobile manufacturer. Its vice president and chairman of its Deepal electric-vehicle (EV) brand, Deng Chenghao, suggested caution regarding the development of all-solid-state batteries. He warned the technology may not be commercially ready before 2030, citing unresolved problems and the risk of industry impatience.
- APM Terminals
- APM Terminals, a Netherlands-headquartered ports operator owned by Maersk, is partnering with CATL and Sany Marine Heavy Industry to electrify its global fleet of terminal vehicles. This initiative aims to decarbonize their operations by using electric terminal tractors powered by CATL batteries, demonstrating APM Terminals' commitment to sustainable logistics.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd.
- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) is a Chinese battery giant and the world's largest maker of power and energy storage batteries. They are partnering with APM Terminals to electrify terminal vehicles and with JD.com and GAC to launch a low-cost EV with battery-swapping technology. CATL provides battery rental and swapping services for commercial and passenger vehicles.
- Sany Marine Heavy Industry
- APM Terminals, a Netherlands-headquartered ports operator, is collaborating with Sany Marine Heavy Industry to electrify its global fleet of terminal vehicles. APM Terminals is using electric terminal tractors from Sany Marine Heavy Industry, which are powered by batteries from CATL, as part of its decarbonization efforts in the logistics industry.
- JD.com Inc.
- JD.com Inc. is a Chinese e-commerce company that has partnered with battery giant CATL and automaker GAC. They launched a low-cost electric vehicle (EV) called the Aion UT Super, designed to support battery-swapping technology. JD.com will function as the online sales platform for this vehicle, offering a rental battery option.
- Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd.
- Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. (GAC) has partnered with Chinese battery giant CATL and JD.com Inc. to launch an affordable electric vehicle (EV). GAC Aion, a subsidiary, will be responsible for the vehicle's production and delivery. The Aion UT Super, which utilizes battery-swapping technology, was recently released.
- Codelco
- China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has conditionally approved a joint venture between Chile's Codelco and SQM for lithium mining. This approval marks the final antitrust clearance for the partnership, which is crucial to Chile's resource nationalization strategy and is expected to impact the global lithium supply chain.
- SQM
- China's State Administration for Market Regulation has given conditional approval for a lithium joint venture (JV) between Chilean lithium maker SQM and Codelco. This approval clears the final antitrust hurdle for the partnership, which is crucial to Chile's resource nationalization strategy. The deal, which establishes a JV to mine, produce, and sell minerals from Chile's Atacama Salt Flat, is expected to reshape the global lithium supply chain and impact SQM's profitability.
- Tianqi Lithium Corp.
- China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has approved a lithium joint venture between Chile's Codelco and SQM. This deal is poised to reshape the global lithium supply chain and will impact the profitability of SQM, in which Tianqi Lithium Corp. is the second-largest shareholder.
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