Mexican Media Brands
Total’s CEO Questions EU Battery Project
The head of energy giant Total SA says the company hasn’t decided whether to participate in Europe’s effort to develop its own battery industry for electric cars.
#hybrid
Share
The head of energy giant Total SA says the company hasn’t decided whether Europe can mount a viable effort to develop its own battery industry for electric cars.
CEO Patrick Pouyanne (pictured) tells The Nikkei that the ultimate question is whether European manufacturers believe they can build batteries that compete with established producers in China, South Korea and Japan.
Battery makers from those countries currently control nearly half the global EV battery market. Several have announced plans to erect their own battery cellmaking factories in Europe.
Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard voiced a similar position about the European initiative last month. “We’re all for it,” he told a French government panel, adding that “it has to make economic sense.”
Three such consortiums are being formed in Europe. Leading the pack is a €6 billion ($6.7 billion) initiative led by Germany and France that includes a reported €1.7 billion ($1.9 billion) in government subsidies from those two countries.
RELATED CONTENT
-
On The Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2022 Nissan Pathfinder, and More
An inside look at the Detroit Assembly Complex-Mack; a innovative approach to waste-free, two-tone painting; why a forging press is like an F1 car; and other automotive developments.
-
On Audi's Paint Colors, the Lexus ES 250, and a Lambo Tractor
From pitching a startup idea to BMW to how ZF is developing and using ADAS tech to a review of the Lexus ES 250 AWD to special info about additive at Toyota R&D. And lots in between.
-
on lots of electric trucks. . .Grand Highlander. . .atomically analyzing additive. . .geometric designs. . .Dodge Hornet. . .
EVs slowdown. . .Ram’s latest in electricity. . .the Grand Highlander is. . .additive at the atomic level. . .advanced—and retro—designs. . .the Dodge Hornet. . .Rimac in reverse. . .
