German economy minister renews calls for European battery cell production

The German economy and energy minister, Peter Altmaier, has renewed calls for a European battery cell factory to counter Asia’s dominance in the sector. “We need competitive, innovative and environmentally sustainable production capacities for battery cells in Germany and Europe,” Altmaier said in a press release issued in the run-up to a major conference on e-mobility organised by his ministry. “We want to save jobs and know-how in the long run and avoid a dependence on non-European markets of our manufacturers,” he added. Besides several industry representatives, Altmaier will welcome EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic at the conference.

Read the press release in German here.

Find background in the new CLEW dossier Energy storage and the Energiewende and the article Chinese-German battery cell deal key step for mobility transition.