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The Electric

By Steve LeVine

The Electric is a publication from Steve LeVine and The Information focused on crucial industries for the energy transition, including next-generation batteries, electric vehicles and autonomous driving. The newsletter is only for subscribers of The Information.

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Recent Editions

These metals-rich nodules carpet the Pacific seafloor 800 miles southeast of Hawaii. Photo: William West/AFP/Getty

Exclusive From The Electric: On the Hunt for More Equity Stakes, Trump May Have Seafloor Mining in His Sights

By Steve LeVine · Oct 9, 2025 4:30am PDT

In August, more than 100 investors in The Metals Co., a developer of metals found on the seafloor, gathered for a daylong meeting at Manhattan’s luxury Whitby Hotel that extended to evening karaoke. There was a buzz in the crowd because, 14 years after its launch, The Metals Co. says it may finally get to mine the seabed floor in the Pacific... In August, more than 100 investors in The Metals Co., a developer of metals found on the...

Iron, XPeng's humanoid robot. Photo: Sven Hoppe/Picture Alliance/Getty

The Electric: In a Big Month, China's XPeng Will Unveil a Humanoid Robot and a Flying Car

By Steve LeVine · Oct 6, 2025 4:30am PDT

China’s XPeng is best known for its electric vehicles, which have begun to take off in Europe. But later this month, the company also plans to introduce a new version of its humanoid robot, Iron, to be deployed in its factories and showrooms. China’s XPeng is best known for its electric vehicles, which have begun to take off in Europe....

Wildfires triggered blackouts in successive years in California. Above, the town of Sausalito in October 2019. Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty

The Electric: Sunrun and Tesla Residential Batteries Could Help Power Data Centers

By Steve LeVine · Oct 2, 2025 4:30am PDT

At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, California-based solar and battery provider Sunrun received an urgent email from Puerto Rico. Starting in just an hour, the U.S. territory needed a big infusion of electricity or it would have to initiate rolling blackouts across the island. At 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, California-based solar and battery provider Sunrun received an urgent...

A Mercedes-Benz team drove an EV powered with a solid state battery 750 miles on a single charge. Photo: Courtesy Mercedes-Benz.

The Electric: The Gimmickry Around Coming Solid State Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 29, 2025 4:30am PDT

A Mercedes-Benz team drove an EV powered with a solid state battery 750 miles on a single charge. Photo: Courtesy Mercedes-Benz.

The Electric: The Gimmickry Around Coming Solid State Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 29, 2025 4:30am PDT

For a half century, scientists have agreed that pure lithium metal—the lightest metal on the periodic table and jam-packed with energy—would be the best material for a battery. Since lithium is explosive when exposed to moisture, they have tried to make the battery using a solid-state structure, using no liquid. But no one has managed to make... For a half century, scientists have agreed that pure lithium metal—the lightest metal on the...

The Thacker Pass lithium deposit in Nevada. Photo: Courtesy Lithium Americas

Exclusive From The Electric: The Trump Administration Is Seeking Stakes in More Critical Minerals Companies

By Steve LeVine · Sep 25, 2025 4:30am PDT

President Donald Trump’s administration is in talks to take stakes in multiple critical minerals companies, according to industry consultants, solidifying a playbook where government support comes in exchange for payments or equity. President Donald Trump’s administration is in talks to take stakes in multiple critical minerals...

A SunPower project in Utah. Photo: Courtesy SunPower

Exclusive: With an Acquisition, SunPower's T.J. Rodgers Leads New Solar Industry Consolidation

By Steve LeVine · Sep 22, 2025 4:00am PDT

In a sign of a new wave of renewable energy industry consolidation, SunPower has agreed to acquire solar power sales company Sunder Energy for $55 million in cash and stock. It’s the latest deal in the industry, which was already struggling before President Donald Trump slashed subsidies. In a sign of a new wave of renewable energy industry consolidation, SunPower has agreed to...

The Luxeed R7 extended-range electric vehicle, produced by China's Chery. Photo: VCG/Getty

The Electric: With the Clock Running Out on EV Subsidies, Carmakers Offer Up a New Idea

By Steve LeVine · Sep 18, 2025 4:30am PDT

In less than two weeks, the clock will run out on the $7,500 consumer tax credit on the purchase of electric vehicles in the U.S., killed by Congress as part of President Donald Trump’s energy policy. Carmakers expect EV sales to fall off a cliff, since most consumers think the vehicles still cost too much, don’t go far enough on a charge, and... In less than two weeks, the clock will run out on the $7,500 consumer tax credit on the purchase...

CATL's Lingbo Zhu announces the Shenxing Pro last week in Munich. Photo: Courtesy CATL

Exclusive From The Electric: How China's CATL Keeps Trouncing Its Battery Rivals

By Steve LeVine · Sep 15, 2025 4:30am PDT

CATL's Lingbo Zhu announces the Shenxing Pro last week in Munich. Photo: Courtesy CATL

Exclusive From The Electric: How China's CATL Keeps Trouncing Its Battery Rivals

By Steve LeVine · Sep 15, 2025 4:30am PDT

Lingbo Zhu was scribbling on a sheet of paper last week, sketching out a lineup of batteries that no other company could match. Zhu is international chief technology officer of China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd., the world’s largest battery maker, which took another leap forward last week. Lingbo Zhu was scribbling on a sheet of paper last week, sketching out a lineup of batteries that...

A stationary storage facility in Houston, Texas. Photo: Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle/Getty

The Electric: Chinese Stationary Storage Batteries Are All the Rage in the U.S.

By Steve LeVine · Sep 11, 2025 4:30am PDT

Pushed by a surge of electricity demand, stationary battery companies have been on a tear, making the U.S. the second-fastest growing battery market in the world behind China. Further juicing demand for batteries and components is a rush to build stockpiles ahead of possible new tariffs and the loss of subsidies. Pushed by a surge of electricity demand, stationary battery companies have been on a tear, making...

Flynt CEO Daniel Kirchert. Photo: Steve LeVine/The Electric

The Electric: An EV Developer Urges Rivals to Capitalize on China's Cheap Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 11, 2025 4:30am PDT · 1 comment

Batteries made in China are dirt cheap. So are a slew of other electric vehicle components manufactured there. So if you’re a shrewd Western entrepreneur, why not embrace these cut-rate prices, and make valuable products from them for U.S. and European customers? How about a low-priced delivery van, for instance? Batteries made in China are dirt cheap. So are a slew of other electric vehicle components...

Lingbo Zhu, chief technology officer of CATL’s international business unit. Photo: Courtesy CATL

In Munich, a Bolder CATL Doubles Down on Good-Enough Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 8, 2025 4:30am PDT

For years, Western battery startups using exotic materials have promised outsize driving range and charging speed, all at a good price. None has reached commercial production, and an increasing number have failed.Not to fret, China’s battery colossus, CATL, seemed to say on Sunday. CATL is steadily improving its tried-and-true battery, which... For years, Western battery startups using exotic materials have promised outsize driving range...

Nickel processing and smelting plant in North Maluku, Indonesia. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty

The Electric: In a Geopolitics Hack, EV Makers Use Indonesia to Obtain Chinese Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 4, 2025 4:30am PDT

Nickel processing and smelting plant in North Maluku, Indonesia. Photo: STR/AFP/Getty

The Electric: In a Geopolitics Hack, EV Makers Use Indonesia to Obtain Chinese Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Sep 4, 2025 4:30am PDT

Two years ago, Indonesia’s president came to the White House and offered then-President Joe Biden a deal. Indonesia would supply all of the nickel the U.S. needed to build a competitive electric vehicle battery industry, if Biden made the mineral-rich country eligible for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. Two years ago, Indonesia’s president came to the White House and offered then-President Joe Biden...

The Beta Alia in Norway in August. Photo: Courtesy Beta

The Electric: The Startup Betting That Electric Flying Taxis Will First Carry Cargo

By Steve LeVine · Sep 1, 2025 4:30am PDT

Leading electric air taxi startups have stepped up a campaign of public exploits as they move closer to carrying paid passengers, including recent showy flights by test pilots in California, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere. But they may be outdone by a group of less-flashy electric aviation companies: cargo startups that will ferry no... Leading electric air taxi startups have stepped up a campaign of public exploits as they move...

Sila Nano's new silicon anode plant in Moses Lake, Wash. Photo: Courtesy Sila

The Electric: Silicon's Malaise Reflects an Auto Industry Ceding Momentum to China

By Steve LeVine · Aug 28, 2025 4:30am PDT · 1 comment

In May 2022, two rival U.S. battery startups announced similar coups.Group14 Technologies, a developer of silicon anodes that promised greater driving range and faster charging in electric vehicles, said that within two years—in 2024—its product would be powering EVs made by Porsche. It was big news because, despite years of trying, no Western... In May 2022, two rival U.S. battery startups announced similar coups.Group14 Technologies, a...

Musk in Qatar. Win McNamee/Getty

The Electric: Is One of Tesla's Key Battery Innovations Worth It?

By Steve LeVine · Aug 25, 2025 4:30am PDT · 1 comment

In 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised to completely rework his processes and release a cheap electric vehicle for the masses. That sent rivals scurrying, especially to keep up with his vow to stop making batteries “wet,” the expensive conventional way, requiring toxic solvents, massive drying ovens and cavernous factories. Instead, Tesla would... In 2020, Tesla CEO Elon Musk promised to completely rework his processes and release a cheap...

Mohamad Yassine, CEO of Predictive Horizons. Photo: Vanessa Harp

Exclusive From The Electric: In a Startup, Tesla Veterans Attack Detroit's Warranty Crisis

By Steve LeVine · Aug 21, 2025 4:30am PDT

Mohamad Yassine, CEO of Predictive Horizons. Photo: Vanessa Harp

Exclusive From The Electric: In a Startup, Tesla Veterans Attack Detroit's Warranty Crisis

By Steve LeVine · Aug 21, 2025 4:30am PDT

Last year, Ford paid out $5.8 billion in warranty claims on its vehicles, a 22% increase over 2023. General Motors spent $4.5 billion on such claims, 12% more than its 2023 number. And Tesla paid $1.45 billion, a 19% year-on-year increase.Detroit has a car repair problem going back to the 1970s. It was one reason Japanese carmakers managed to... Last year, Ford paid out $5.8 billion in warranty claims on its vehicles, a 22% increase over...

Lyten CEO Dan Cook. Photo: Courtesy Lyten

Exclusive From The Electric: Cash Will Be Lyten's Biggest Challenge in its Northvolt Takeover

By Steve LeVine · Aug 18, 2025 4:30am PDT

If everything goes well in the coming months, San Jose, Calif., startup Lyten will crank up the production of nickel-based batteries at its newly acquired plant in Sweden. It will then ship those batteries to another plant it’s just acquired in Poland, and make them into stationary storage systems for a list of waiting customers. If everything goes well in the coming months, San Jose, Calif., startup Lyten will crank up the...

Alan Clarke, right, head of Ford's secret skunkworks, with Doug Field, Ford's chief EV officer, middle, and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. Photo: Courtesy Long Beach Mayor's Office.

Exclusive From The Electric: How Ford's EV Guru Plans to Beat Tesla and the Chinese

By Steve LeVine · Aug 14, 2025 4:30am PDT · 1 comment

For years, it’s been clear that Detroit is behind China and Tesla in the global race to build electric and autonomous vehicles. So, in what it viewed as a mission to save itself, Ford poached Tesla veteran Alan Clarke, who had helped create most of the EV maker’s vehicles. Clarke’s marching orders: Create a line of EVs that could beat those of... For years, it’s been clear that Detroit is behind China and Tesla in the global race to build...

Aionics' office in Palo Alto, Calif. Photo: Courtesy Aionics

The Electric: AI for Batteries Startups Don’t Earn Much. How They Hope to Make More

By Steve LeVine · Aug 11, 2025 4:30am PDT

Artificial intelligence startups like OpenAI are growing fast, generating multibillions of dollars in revenue. But the small industry of AI startups hoping to design better batteries is not sharing in the largesse. Artificial intelligence startups like OpenAI are growing fast, generating multibillions of...

In May, Caltech successfully detected solar power produced in space and beamed to Earth. Photo: Ali Hajimiri/Caltech

The Electric: Co-founder of Robinhood Launches a Space Startup

By Steve LeVine · Aug 7, 2025 4:30am PDT

In May, Caltech successfully detected solar power produced in space and beamed to Earth. Photo: Ali Hajimiri/Caltech

The Electric: Co-founder of Robinhood Launches a Space Startup

By Steve LeVine · Aug 7, 2025 4:30am PDT

In 1941, Isaac Asimov told the story of Solar Station No. 5, a space station that collected power from the Sun, converted it to microwaves, and beamed it to humans living on planets a vast distance away.A little over eight decades later, Baiju Bhatt, Robinhood’s billionaire co-founder and former co-CEO, has launched a new startup seeking to do... In 1941, Isaac Asimov told the story of Solar Station No. 5, a space station that collected power...