Worldwide, batteries are getting a great deal of backing, but probably not at the level of China’s push to rule over world electric vehicle markets. Recently, China awarded BYD $3.7 billion to enable it to pursue dominance of the world EV market. According to Bloomberg.com, “Virtually all of China’s listed companies received direct handouts in 2022, the Kiel Institute [for the World Economy] said, flagging support for wind, solar and railway rolling stock companies. Industry aid in China is “at least three to four” times higher than in large EU and OECD countries, the group said.” The European Union is busy investigating China’s underwriting of its own auto industry in what the EU sees as an anti-competitive advantage in an ongoing EV price war. America, for the most part, and aside from relatively minor Advanced Research Project Agency – Electric (ARPA-E) funding, does not seem to encourage EV development. What usually starts with automotive advancement eventually finds its way skyward. …
China’s Solid State, Long Life Batteries
China seems to be leading the way in battery development, with recent announcements of increased energy density solid-state batteries, and batteries that can last for close to a million miles of service. The two companies are reporting batteries already in service or close to being released to the public. Tailan New Energy Doubles Down Reporting in Electrek, Scooter Doll reports Tailan New Energy has announced vehicle-grade all-solid-state lithium batteries with energy density “twice that of other cells in the segment.” Only six years old, the firm has taken a leading role in the battery industry. The Energy Viking reports further. Tailan has achieved a 120 Amp-hour solid-state battery cell using “ultra-thin and dense composite oxide solid electrolytes, high-capacity advanced positive and negative electrode materials, and an integrated molding process.” Housing an energy density of 720 Watt-hours per kilogram, twice that of other batteries installed in passenger electric vehicles in China, these new cells could effectively double the mileage per charge. …