Recharge by Battery Materials Review

Recharge Mar24 (Batteries & costs, Anode Mats, China EVs, Nickel Supply)

In March’s Recharge, presenters Matt Fernley (RK Equity [https://rkequity.com/]/Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy [https://electrios.com/]) discuss key developments along the battery supply chain, including: * Battery Show Asia feedback including dancing robots, new uses, chemistries, hybrid pack strategies and sodium-ion * Anode material dynamics, including cost pressure on synthetic graphite, the emergence of silicon-carbon and natural graphite upside * China EV demand weakness and its causes, but also thoughts on the future * Impact on the battery chain from Middle East supply issues * Nickel supply issues around HPAL, quotas and environmental risks * Potential for rising battery costs and what impact that may have * VRFB competitiveness versus lithium-ion, with LCOS and duration economics in focus

Recharge Feb26 (EVs, ESS, China, Lithium)

In this month’s Recharge, presenters Matt Fernley (RK Equity [https://rkequity.com/]/Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy [https://electrios.com/]) discuss key developments along the battery supply chain, including: * Slowing China EV sales, changes in the PHEV/BEV ratio and the possibility of further stimulus. * How and whay Europe surprised last year in EV sales and what that could mean for this year. * Can ROW demand offset slowing US sales? * What's happening in ESS, why the development of sodium-ion may not be an issue for lithium-ion and how higher lithium prices could impact. * Why lithium price volatility ≠ broken fundamentals. Discussing inventory levels and demand.

Recharge Jan26 (2025 review and outlook thoughts)

In January 2026’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt (RK Equity [https://rkequity.com/]/ Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy [https://electrios.com/]) discuss key battery-market dynamics heading into 2026, including:   * China’s shift toward PHEVs/EREVs, larger packs, and intensifying model-level competition * Slowing China EV sales growth and the implications of subsidy roll-offs for 2026 demand * Diverging regional outcomes in 2025: US EV slowdown versus stronger-than-expected Europe growth * China’s export rebate changes for batteries and the impact on Tier 2 producers and ESS supply availability * Rising battery raw material inputs and where cell pricing could tighten, especially for higher-duration ESS

Recharge Dec25 (Overstated forecasts, CATL, semi-solid batteries, battery costs, BESS)

In December 2025’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review [http://batterymaterialsreview.com]) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy [https://electrios.com/]) review the key developments shaping the battery materials and energy storage sectors as the industry heads into 2026, including: * Why lithium demand forecasts may be overstated, including assumptions around lithium intensity per kWh and EV battery pack sizes * EV battery size trends, affordability, and the divergence between Europe and China, including the role of SUVs, crossovers and EREVs * What does NIO’s decision to stop selling its semi-solid battery mean for the market? * Battery pricing trends, BNEF pack cost benchmarks, and whether 2025 marks the trough for cell and pack costs * Capacity utilisation, pricing pressure and why older gigafactories risk becoming uncompetitive * BESS market dynamics, including strong cell shipments, slower installations, inventory build-ups and project delays

Recharge Oct25 (LME Week, lithium debate, China controls, NMC vs LFP, sodium-ion, ESS boom)

In October 2025’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review [http://batterymaterialsreview.com]) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy [https://electrios.com/]) 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