According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the U. Congress has prohibited the Pentagon from procuring batteries produced by six Chinese companies, including CATL and BYD. Additionally, the other four battery manufacturers set to be banned are Envision Energy, EVE Energy, Gotion High-Tech, and Hithium Energy Storage Technology.
Which Chinese batteries are banned from the Pentagon?
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the U.S. Congress has prohibited the Pentagon from procuring batteries produced by six Chinese companies, including CATL and BYD. Additionally, the other four battery manufacturers set to be banned are Envision Energy, EVE Energy, Gotion High-Tech, and Hithium Energy Storage Technology.
H.R. 8631, or the “Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act,” would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from buying batteries from six companies with China ties. It passed by voice vote under suspension of the rules, an expedited process on typically uncontroversial bills.
Additionally, the other four battery manufacturers set to be banned are Envision Energy, EVE Energy, Gotion High-Tech, and Hithium Energy Storage Technology. Based on the report, of the top 10 battery suppliers in the world, just three are non-Chinese companies.
China also leads the global processing of minerals needed for EV batteries, such as graphite and rare earths. The country has recently curbed exports of such materials, citing a need to protect national security.
Is the US looking at China's new energy vehicle supply chain?
However, commercial purchases, such as Ford's procurement of batteries from CATL in Michigan and Tesla's sourcing of batteries from BYD, are temporarily exempt from these measures. As per IJIWEI's report, the U.S. government has long been eyeing the Chinese new energy vehicle supply chain.
Will Biden cut subsidies for Chinese-made batteries?
The Biden administration on Friday proposed rules that would cut subsidies for vehicles that contain Chinese-made battery components, or are found to be produced by a company with strong ties to the Chinese government.