The Power Current with Chris Berry
By Chris Berry
The Power Current with Chris BerryApr 30, 2024
Michael Dunne - Paranoia and Opportunity - The Contrasting Fortunes of Western and Chinese EV Manufacturers
In this conversation, we interview Michael Dunne about the current state of the electric vehicle industry, with a focus on the state of play for Western OEMs and their Chinese competitors.
We discuss the shift of automotive production to Asia, the challenges faced by Western OEMs in catching up to Chinese competitors, and whether or not western OEMs have any hope of matching Chinese scale and technological acumen.
We also explore the barriers to widespread EV adoption, including cost and infrastructure, and if the current debate around Chinese "overcapacity" has any validity to it.
We finish with a discussion of lesser-known players in the EV and autonomy space, such as Baidu, Xiaomi, and Vinfast, as well as Michael's favorite poem and how many languages he actually can speak and understand. Michael is CEO at Dunne Insights LLC, an automotive consultancy with a global client base. He is an entrepreneur with special expertise in China and its complex and dynamic automotive market. He has an incredibly varied background across Asia and the automotive business in particular.
He is the author of the forthcoming book titled 'Humiliation No More - China’s Master Plan to Dominate EV Markets and Destroy western Automakers out in Summer 2025.
Ernest Scheyder - Author of "The War Below" - Who Decides How "Good Mining" is Defined
Today we welcome Ernest Scheyder to discuss his recently published book, "The War Below: Lithium, Copper, and the Global Battle to Power Our Lives."
Ernest is the first author I have hosted on the podcast and given our mutual interest in the metals business, we cover a lot of ground here. Ernest does a terrific job of putting a human face on some complex issues as well as sharing some great stories from his time on the road researching this book (ask him about the Norseman Burger).
Ernest Scheyder is a senior correspondent for Reuters, covering the green energy transition and the minerals that undergird it. He previously covered the US shale oil revolution, politics, and the environment, and held roles at the Associated Press and the Bangor Daily News. A native of Maine, Scheyder is a graduate of the University of Maine and Columbia Journalism School.
Link to the book and other information about Ernest can be found at https://www.ernestscheyder.com/
Frank Wunderlich-Pfeifer - The Potential and Future of Sodium-Ion Batteries
In this episode of The Power Current, Chris welcomes to the podcast Frank Wunderlich-Pfeifer, a Germany-based journalist who has been a vocal proponent of sodium-ion battery technology, to discuss the evolving developments of and technologies around sodium-ion batteries.
During the podcast, we discuss the controversy around sodium-ion tech including pros and cons of sodium-ion versus lithium-ion, the pace of market penetration for sodium ion (it's faster than you think), and optimal end uses in transport and ESS.
Frank is active on Twitter/X (@FrankWunderli13) and will be publishing his own Substack called Superlithic.
If you enjoyed this episode, please like and share.
Dr Srini Godavarthy - CEO of Li-Metal - Developing Next Generation Lithium Metal and Lithium Anode Foil Technologies
In this latest installment of The Power Current, we welcome Dr Srini Godavarthy, CEO of Li-Metal.
Li-Metal is a materials company focused on creating affordable and high purity lithium metal and lithium anode foil technologies. In this episode, we discuss Srini's unique background in oil and gas, his time at Albemarle, his views on direct lithium extraction, the founding of Li-Metal and its business model of lithium metal and lithium anode foil production, and Srini's views on the future of lithium-ion battery development and how Li-Metal intends to capitalize on the opportunities.
If you like this episode, please like and share.
Thanks for listening!
The Lithium Ion Supply Chain View from North America: Shining City or a Fading Giant?
This episode of The Power Current is somewhat unique. Host Chris Berry has an editorial piece he wrote which, unfortunately, was not picked up by a publisher. Instead, we take the opportunity for Chris to share his editorial, here, on his own podcast.
In this piece, Chris asks the questions regarding America's technological advances in battery technology. Is the United States the shining city on the hill, in regards to R&D of batteries? Or is it losing the battle to foreign countries, including its geopolitical adversaries?
The piece leaves lots of questions for the listener to ponder.
Dr Ahmad Ghahreman - CEO of Cyclic Materials - A Deep Dive on Rare Earth Element Magnet and Motor Recycling
My guest today is Dr Ahmad Ghahreman. Ahmad is CEO, President, and Co-Founder of Cyclic Materials, a company developing a novel rare earth magnet and motor recycling processing technology. Dr G has been a serial entrepreneur for the past 15 years with over 15 patents to his name. He is also the co-inventor of Jetti Resources technology and was a member of LiCycle’s Advisory Board with me.
In this episode, we discuss how Ahmad and his team are developing the technology to sustainably recycle rare earth permanent magnets, an overview of what permanent magnets are and the business from a global perspective, Cyclic’s “edge” in its business model, and what the future holds for the company as well as the recycling and electrification thesis overall. If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe.
Emily Hersh - CEO of Luna Lithium - Argentina Economic/Political Overview and Lessons Learned as a CEO
Our guest today is Emily Hersh, a long-time friend, and CEO of Luna Lithium, a lithium exploration play focused on South America (Paraguay and Brazil). Emily is also an accomplished economist with roots in Argentina and the first part of our discussion focuses here.
In this wide-ranging discussion, Emily and I go in depth into the macroeconomic situation in Argentina, to get a better understanding of how the lithium business can and will grow there and how Chinese interests are already well entrenched through currency swap arrangements and other deal structures. We also discuss the likelihood of Argentina joining the BRIC economies, other South American countries and their challenges and opportunities.
Finally, Emily discusses lessons learned during her journey as the CEO of a privately held lithium explorer including the benefits of being private versus publicly held, making sure you’re “in the right room”, and how to build and position the company to weather a dynamic and volatile macro environment. If you enjoy this episode, please like and subscribe.
Dr Vincent Pluvinage - CEO of OneD - The Reality of Electric Vehicles is Here and We Must Compete for Affordability
Today we welcome in Vincent Pluvinage, CEO of Co-Founder of OneD Battery Sciences. OneD Battery Sciences is the leader in providing the most scalable and cost effective manufacturing process to produce silicon-graphite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Its proven manufacturing technology leverages existing commercial graphite suppliers to address the current needs of EV makers for higher energy density, lower cost and lower carbon footprint EV batteries.
OneD has partnered with GM for development of their technologies and the company is looking to expand into more OEM partnerships. But outside of the science of their research, Vincent dives into why affordability of EVs in incredibly important right now with Chinese EVs hitting markets outside of its own country. Vince is also outspoken as to how to solve the battery problem, and his thoughts as to why its more of a people and education issue than it is a technology issue.
Dr. Jay Turner: Is the World Prepared for the Green Energy Revolution?
My guest today is Dr. Jay Turner, Professor of Environmental Studies at Wellesely College.
Dr. Turner is a prolific researcher on the recent history of U.S. environmental politics and policy, including climate change, the clean energy transition, and public lands management. This is very timely thanks to legislation such as the IRA.
He has taught in the Environmental Studies Program at Wellesley College since the fall of 2006 and his training is in environmental history and environmental studies.
His most recent book, Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future, unpacks the history of batteries to explore why solving the battery problem is crucial to a clean energy transition. But given the unique environmental impact of batteries—including mining, disposal, and more—does a clean energy transition risk trading one set of problems for another?
In today’s discussion we cover both the fascinating history and future of the energy transition, historical precedents, pricing risks (environmental and geopolitical), understanding the optimal public/private investment model, Dr Turner’s EV supply chain database, and what he learned in writing this fascinating book.
The Looming Logistics Challenge for EV Batteries - A View from Sweden with Cling Systems
To paraphrase Shakespeare's Hamlet, To recycle or to reuse....that is the question.
As the lithium-ion battery market continues to grow, this question, coupled with increased logistical issues is creating opportunities and challenges.
Today, Episode 3 of the podcast goes international for the first time to Sweden for a discussion with Eden Yates and William Bergh, CMO and CEO respectively of Cling Systems, a growing startup focused on building a trading platform for used EV batteries. I can tell you from my experience in recycling, that the OEMs in particular, are worried about how to handle EV batteries in the case of recalls or end-of-life decisions, and Cling aims to add transparency and reduce friction in the rapidly growing market by making it easier for battery players to transact.
By the end of this podcast, you will:
1. Understand the ecosystem of how lithium ion batteries are traded, priced, and moved around the world
2. Understand different business models associated with lithium ion batteries including second-life and recycling
3. Hear the views on the markets of two seasoned entrepreneurs in the battery sector.
During the podcast, we discussed two papers written by Eden and William. The first was Cling’s take on Battery Passports and can be found here. The second paper is William’s thesis on the reverse logistics of EV batteries and can be found here.
Johnathan Lee - Director at Largo Physical Vanadium - A Dive into the Vanadium and Vanadium Redox Flow Battery Markets
In this episode of the podcast, we dissect the vanadium market. Vanadium has been primarily used in the steel market to dramatically strengthen the material but the real growth in the market is expected to come from the Vanadium Redox Flow Battery (VRFB) – a battery that has many advantages over its lithium-ion cousin.
My guest today is Mr. Johnathan Lee. Johnathan is a director at Largo Physical Vanadium (LPV), a seasoned market analyst, and a good friend. LPV is a vanadium holding company that has the mandate to purchase and hold physical vanadium and has relationships with Largo Resources and others. Largo is a tier-one vertically integrated operator of the Maracas Menchen vanadium mine in Brazil.
By the end of this podcast you will:
1. Have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of the vanadium market
2. Have a solid understanding of the VRFB including its pros and cons relative to other battery chemistries
3. Hear Jonathan’s thoughts on the state of the Battery Metals markets
As a brief aside, there are two data points used in the podcast which we wanted to clarify. Regarding the McKinsey report referenced in the discussion, the report is calling for 7.5 TWh of cumulative storage capacity. Second, regarding the amount of vanadium pentoxide used in a VRFB, the ratio is 20 lbs per KWh. Please enjoy this wide-ranging discussion on the vanadium market with my friend Jonathan Lee.
Jonathan Beigle - CEO of Ridgeline Royalties - The Business of Royalties and Battery Metals
In this inaugural episode of The Power Current, we talk to Jonathan Beigle, President and CEO of Ridgeline Royalties. As the financing window for battery metals projects remains firmly open, there are many ways to finance these projects including traditional equity, debt, prepayments, and royalties. After 11 years on the buy side Johnathan founded Ridgeline as a royalty company and I wanted to have him on the podcast to discuss why he went this route, how he is building the company to take advantage of the royalty opportunity, and how he sees the macro playing out.
At the end of this episode, you will:
1. Understand the royalty business model
2. Understand how to weigh the pros and cons of different financing models
3. Hear from an experienced market practitioner how he sees the battery metals thesis playing out
None of this is intended to be investment advice whatsoever and should not be taken as such. Please consult an investment advisor before making any financial decisions.
Introducing The Power Current with Chris Berry
Join Host and founder of House Mountain Partners for a fresh look into the new energy and battery metal supply chains.
We stand at a unique moment in human history as many of the economic, geopolitical, and social forces that have driven economic growth to new heights in recent decades are reversing. This has caused unprecedented opportunities and threats across the global economy and one such area is the global energy transition. This podcast aims to educate and, through a myriad of different guests including CEOs, financiers, government officials, think tankers, and technologists debate and elucidate many of the issues around topics such as green growth, fossil fuel use, and the many potentially revolutionary technologies such as batteries set to play a role in a decarbonized future.