Recharge by Battery Materials Review

In March’s Recharge, presenters Matt Fernley (RK Equity /Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) 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

In this month’s Recharge, presenters Matt Fernley (RK Equity /Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) 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.

In January 2026’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt (RK Equity / Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) 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  

In December 2025’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) 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

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

For our February 2025 Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss some of the key talking point in the industry, including: The likely effect of tariffs on all parts of the cell supply chain Korean cathode and cell maker results and current positioning China's current trade issues with Europe, US and what that might mean Trump 2.0 and what that means for the US investment environment BESS - the evolution of technology and the world's biggest? EV technology developments