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

Welcome to 2025 for all our listeners! In this month's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) kick off the year by discussing: - The emergence of MENA into the battery value chain - 2024 review and 2025 outlook - Battery pricing trends - The emergence of a two-tier Energy Transition - 2025 EV sales forecasts - The decreasing importance of the equity market in funding - Lithium cost curves and DLE - Niche materials (HPM, graphite) in 2025 - Trade issues

In November's Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) compare notes on their recent travels and talk about some of the key aspects of the industry, including: The US elections and their impact on the battery value chain China's evolution in PHEVs and EREVs Q3 results from cellmakers, cathode producers and miners Takeaways from Matt's and Cormac's trips to China Thoughts on development of the battery industry

Join us for October's Recharge, where co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss and analyse some of the key news and developments from the battery value chain, including: China's stimulus and its likely impact on the battery value chain Recent developments in China ESS systems Geopolitics, tariffs and their impact on battery products Anode materials financings and sector development The EU and its mixed messaging around the battery value chain The risks to the growth of LFP in the Western World EREVs as a core technology for the EV industry Thoughts on the lithium market  

In this inaugural edition of RECHARGE: The Industry we talk with Vikram Handa, Managing Director of Epsilon Advanced Materials, about his company's development plans in anode materials on three continents, how its process differs from others, the emergence of battery demand in India and how EAM's products stack up against Chinese AAM.

In September's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss and analyse some of the key news and developments from the battery value chain, including: Nickel and whether it's heading back to balance Chinese records on cell and EV production PHEVs/EREVs and auto manufacturers' strategy and profitability Global EV sales update The cautionary tale of small-scale battery start ups Is silver the new battery material? Lithium and the impact of the CATL lepidolite shutdown  

In August's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials. Amongst other things, this month we cover: China's maturing battery supply chain Project delays and their impact on all parts of the industry The changing face of BESS The advent of EV/ICE parity in China and its ramifications Lack of production cuts in lithium EV take-off in the Rest of the World

Join us for July's Recharge, in which co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials. This month we discuss: Our takeaways from the Fastmarkets BRM conference LFP/LMFP and development of a Western supply chain Progress on DLE and its impact on how we see the lithium industry going forward Low profitability in the battery industry and its impacts Different battery industry strategy in China vs rest of the world One man's subsidy is another's incentive...Is China really the big bad?

In June's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials.   Join us as we discuss:   - US section 301 tariffs and their impact on EV economics and the supply chain; - Breaking news - European EV tariffs on Chinese OEMs; - BYD's apparent new strategy in Europe; - High Purity Manganese and its importance and neglect; - China lepidolite. Our framework for its emergence and impact on lithium prices; - The importance of the emergence of 800V architecture in EVs; - EV sales and how the outlook is more positive than most analysts suggest.

In May's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials.   This month's key topics include: The Beijing auto show and EV dominance; CATL's new cells and recent ESS industry advances; The Canadian battery supply chain; US and UK sanctions on Russian material and likely impacts; China's scrappage scheme and its impact on EV demand; Thoughts on the geopolitics of the Energy Transition.

In April's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials.   This month's key topics include: Some feedback from Cormac's recent travels in Asia particularly around the Chinese battery industry; Thoughts on lithium pricing and discussion on Chinese lepidolite; EV sales recap and thoughts, particularly with regards to the EU's tariff review; Discussion on ESS demand, form factors and inventories; Some thoughts on the outlook for lower tier cell producers.

In March's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials.   This month's key topics include: EVs - our forecasts and an update on China; Solid state batteries after the Samsung SDI announcement; Lithium prices - potential for carbonate/hydroxide bifurcation; Nickel industry and key issues; Takeaways from the International Battery Symposium; Thoughts about ESG Do you enjoy Recharge? If so, why don't you check out our free 2024 Yearbook which you can download here.

In February's Recharge, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) discuss all the key news items in the world of batteries and battery materials. This month's key topics include: Incentive prices - ex-China and within China; EV sales and the growing importance of RoW; BMR Yearbook and what to expect; Earnings stress; Overinvestment...or not? Two-tier pricing; Lepidolite and lithium pricing outlook; Graphite and China www.batterymaterialsreview.com 

In the first Recharge of the New Year, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O'Laoire (Electrios Energy) look forward to 2024 in batteries and battery materials.   This month's key topics include: the slowdown in Gigafactory announcements and what it could mean; Graphite in China and exports; IRA and Foreign Entities of Concern; ESS growth and its impacts; PHEV/BEV ratio in EVs; Raw Material prices.