Can Europe Go Electric & Remain Sovereign? - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses Europe's challenge of achieving strategic autonomy in electric vehicle (EV) production amid the critical transition to electrification, which is essential for climate goals, security, and future jobs. While Europe currently maintains near-autonomy in vehicle manufacturing, the battery supply chain remains a vulnerability. Despite setbacks like Northvolt's bankruptcy a year ago, recent developments show promise with European companies such as PowerCo, Verkor, and ACC beginning battery cell production, alongside Umicore's cathode manufacturing in Poland. These efforts, combined with existing South Korean and Chinese investments, could enable Europe to produce enough batteries to support around 8 million BEVs annually by 2030, potentially allowing for both domestic supply and exports. However, the article highlights significant challenges beneath the surface. Although nameplate gigafactory capacities suggest autonomy, Europe still imports a substantial share of battery cells from China (28%) and South Korea (2%), with Chinese batteries often cheaper and dominating markets like Germany. European factories