Recharge by Battery Materials Review

In October 2025’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) unpack takeaways from LME Week and what they mean for the battery value chain, including: The split views on lithium—bulls vs bears—and why inventories over the next 2–3 months will be decisive EV demand dynamics: China’s scrappage scheme effects, BEV vs PHEV trends, and the surge in ROW sales driven by Chinese exports (BYD, new EU/LatAm plants) China’s new export controls on advanced LFP and graphite, the West’s exposure to Chinese anode supply, and the case for building an independent NMC-led supply chain in Europe/US The funding gap for battery raw materials projects and whether price floors/industrial policy can unlock capital NMC vs LFP in Western markets and the rise of mixed-chemistry packs Sodium-ion reality check—costs, performance, and supply-chain hurdles (hard carbon) vs LFP ExxonMobil’s push into synthetic graphite via Superior Graphite and the potential to scale non-Chinese anode supply ESS going “gangbusters”: China’s ~180+ GWh target, Middle East mega-projects, and implications for global cell availability and integrator business models

In August 2025's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss some of the recent key talking points in the battery industry, including: The China lithium shutdowns, their impact on the industry and outlook Development on US tariffs and anti-dumping duties in the battery supply chain, with a particular focus on graphite and anode materials The MP Materials/DoD deal and potential impacts on the battery chain What do price floors mean for materials markets and projects? EV sales update and discussion Discussion on commercial vehicle sales

In June 2025's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss some of the month's key talking points in the battery industry, including: The current state of US/China trade war, the impact of the IRA repeal on the sector and the uncertain investment environment Changes to the US raw material planning structure - is it enough to attract investment to the sector? Exciting sounding announcements from Ford & GM around high manganese batteries but where will the raw materials come from? Thoughts on lithium prices, how Chinese lepidolite costs are misunderstood by the market and the issue that it's not just China adding supply Social leasing as a driver of EV sales and Tesla's seeming loss of market share Why BMR's BESS forecast is so bullish and the impact of changing ESS tech and scale

In April 2025's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss some of the month's key talking points in the battery industry, including: Geopolitics and the impact of tariffs on the industry including around exemption of battery RMs from reciprocal tariffs; EVs and ESS impact; and could this actually be a positive in the end? The US Executive Order on Raw Materials - is it enough? The EU's strategic raw materials projects - does the EU "get it"? Cormac's postcard from Korea BYD and 1MW charging - how viable is it outside China? Mass market EV demand in Europe Changes to China's ESS mandate and its likely impact Will battery swapping go the way of the dinosaur in the passenger vehicle market?

In our March 2025 Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss some of the month's key talking point in the battery industry, including: EV sales - moving parts, drivers, future trends, the growth of EREVs, BYD vs Tesla Battery project delays and cancellations in the US and Europe and where that leaves the industry. What do battery developers need to do to survive? The impact of geopolitics and tariffs on the battery sector, the DLE tech ban and the impact on the wider autos industry in North America China update and the impact of US Dept of Homeland Security looking to restrict procurement from six Chinese battery makers The changing investment environment for the industry BESS installation growth; new techs and innovation DRC cobalt export ban and thoughts on prices