The Electric by Steve LeVine — The Information

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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

Musk at a banquet in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty

The Electric: Enduring Chinese Hero Worship for Musk Bolsters Sales of the Tesla Model Y

By Steve LeVine · May 18, 2026 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

With their no-frills, spartan interiors, Tesla’s electric vehicles pale in comparison to plush Chinese-made models, which are typically replete with luxury and tech extras. And the technology that Tesla considers its singular distinguishing feature—its Full Self-Driving software—is heavily restricted in China. With their no-frills, spartan interiors, Tesla’s electric vehicles pale in comparison to plush...

The BYD Denza Z9GT, on display at the Beijing Auto Show, with a silicon carbon anode. Photo: Adek Berry/AFP/Getty

The Electric: China Steals a Manufacturing March on Another American-Made Technology

By Steve LeVine · May 14, 2026 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

For 15 years, Gene Berdichevsky, CEO of silicon carbon battery developer Sila Nanotechnologies, has been working to commercialize a battery that would charge much faster and power electric vehicles much further than conventional batteries. In September, Berdichevsky, a Tesla veteran, finally began test production at his first commercial plant,... For 15 years, Gene Berdichevsky, CEO of silicon carbon battery developer Sila Nanotechnologies,...

A CATL battery swapping station in Ningde, China. Photo: Steve LeVine

The Electric: China's Biggest Battery Maker Is Quickly Expanding Its Rental Business

By Steve LeVine · May 11, 2026 9:00am PDT

As they attempt to lower the cost of their electric vehicles, major Western automakers have mostly struggled with a single component: the battery, which can be up to 40% of an EV’s cost. As they attempt to lower the cost of their electric vehicles, major Western automakers have ...

At the Beijing Auto Show, the Xiaomi Gran Turismo concept EV. Photo: VCG/Getty

The Electric: In Beijing, a Sign That Chinese EV Makers Aren't Invulnerable

By Steve LeVine · May 7, 2026 9:06am PDT · 5 comments

At the Beijing Auto Show, the Xiaomi Gran Turismo concept EV. Photo: VCG/Getty

The Electric: In Beijing, a Sign That Chinese EV Makers Aren't Invulnerable

By Steve LeVine · May 7, 2026 9:06am PDT · 5 comments

One thing no one tells you about going to China is that it’s pretty easy to obtain a temporary local driver’s license. With some help from electric vehicle maker XPeng, I got mine at Beijing Capital International Airport on the way to the Beijing Auto Show, which ended this week. One thing no one tells you about going to China is that it’s pretty easy to obtain a temporary...

In Ford's Long Beach, Calif. Skunk Works. Photo: Courtesy Ford

The Electric: Inside Ford's Southern California Skunk Works

By Steve LeVine · May 5, 2026 6:30am PDT

In recent months, Ford has dramatically retreated from its bet on electric vehicles and returned to a full-bore lineup of large gasoline pickups and SUVs. There’s one exception: a California skunkworks that aims to build a $30,000 EV that beats Tesla and Chinese juggernauts such as BYD and Xiaomi. In recent months, Ford has dramatically retreated from its bet on electric vehicles and returned...

The Electric: Repurposed EV Batteries Are a New Power Source in AI Data Centers

The Electric: Repurposed EV Batteries Are a New Power Source in AI Data Centers

By Steve LeVine · Apr 16, 2026 9:00am PDT

EV batteries are turning out to have useful lives even after they stop powering vehicles. The battery industry, along with academics who study battery life, say the batteries turn out to still have a lot of juice when they seem dead. Rather than ripping them apart and recycling their metals, they say, EV batteries should be repurposed for... EV batteries are turning out to have useful lives even after they stop powering...

Chery says it will release the premium Exeed EX7 SUV late this year, powered by a semisolid battery. Photo: Courtesy MIIT.

The Electric: In the U.S. and China, Exaggerated Claims of Solid State Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Apr 13, 2026 9:00am PDT

In a livestreamed event last month, China’s Chery Automobile said it had made a breakthrough in solid-state batteries and would deploy them next year in a luxury electric SUV that would have a whopping 560 miles of range. In a livestreamed event last month, China’s Chery Automobile said it had made a breakthrough in...

China's Geely displayed its M9 Galaxy SUV in Las Vegas in January. Photo: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg/Getty

The Electric: High Gas Prices Are Giving Chinese EV Makers Even Greater Advantage

By Steve LeVine · Apr 9, 2026 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

China's Geely displayed its M9 Galaxy SUV in Las Vegas in January. Photo: Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg/Getty

The Electric: High Gas Prices Are Giving Chinese EV Makers Even Greater Advantage

By Steve LeVine · Apr 9, 2026 9:00am PDT · 1 comment

Oil prices have plunged from their highs on the news of the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran and a partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. But they remain roughly $100 a barrel—about 50% higher than they were before the war began—and economists expect prices at the pump to remain elevated for much of the year. Oil prices have plunged from their highs on the news of the two-week ceasefire between the U.S....

Honeywell and startup Odys are building the hybrid-electric Laila, which would bring down drones in combat. Photo: Courtesy Odys

The Electric: Honeywell Jumps Into the Race to Develop Electric Aircraft for the Pentagon

By Steve LeVine · Apr 6, 2026 9:00am PDT

Multiple electric aviation startups are developing aircraft for combat missions in a race for billions of dollars in orders they expect from the Pentagon and other military buyers amid a boom in defense spending. Multiple electric aviation startups are developing aircraft for combat missions in a race for...

Commonwealth Fusion's magnet-making factory in Massachusetts. Photo: Courtesy Commonwealth

The Electric: Commonwealth Fusion Backs a Rival's Attempt at Cheaper Fusion

By Steve LeVine · Apr 2, 2026 4:30am PDT

Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised almost $3 billion to solve one of the most vexing problems in technology—how to create energy the same way the sun does. Now the Massachusetts startup has agreed to provide one of its main breakthroughs—gigantic advanced magnets that enable fusion reactors—to a smaller rival in a partnership that could... Commonwealth Fusion Systems has raised almost $3 billion to solve one of the most vexing problems...

Nth Cycle's pilot factory in Fairfield, Ohio. Photo: Courtesy Nth Cycle.

The Electric: Why Going Small May Be How to Survive the Battery Downturn

By Steve LeVine · Mar 30, 2026 4:30am PDT

Five years ago, Western car, battery and metals companies spent billions of dollars to build gigantic factories to meet forecasts of tremendous demand for electric vehicles. Among them were companies that promised to recycle spent batteries, with the goal of reducing the cost and environmental footprint of making EVs and allowing the West to... Five years ago, Western car, battery and metals companies spent billions of dollars to build...

On March 12, Joby flew its eVTOL over San Francisco. Photo: Courtesy Joby Aviation.

Exclusive From The Electric: Two Electric Aviation Startups Attempt to Jump Ahead of Rivals

By Steve LeVine · Mar 26, 2026 4:30am PDT

On March 12, Joby flew its eVTOL over San Francisco. Photo: Courtesy Joby Aviation.

Exclusive From The Electric: Two Electric Aviation Startups Attempt to Jump Ahead of Rivals

By Steve LeVine · Mar 26, 2026 4:30am PDT

The Iran war seems likely to scotch the plans of U.S. electric aviation startups to launch their first commercial flights in the Middle East this year. But in the next few weeks and months, two leaders in the nascent industry will be flying in the U.S. The Iran war seems likely to scotch the plans of U.S. electric aviation startups to launch their...

Jeff Dahn in his Dalhousie University lab. Photo: Courtesy Dalhousie

The Electric: This Tesla Adviser's Batteries Could Last for Centuries

By Steve LeVine · Mar 23, 2026 4:30am PDT · 1 comment

What if batteries lasted forever? What if batteries lasted forever?

LGES's Spring Hill, Tenn. iron battery production plant. Photo: Courtesy LGES

The Electric: The U.S. is Challenging China's Dominance of Iron Batteries

By Steve LeVine · Mar 19, 2026 4:30am PDT

Until recently, Western car and battery companies seemed to agree that there was no point challenging China’s near-monopoly on the production of iron-based batteries, which power most electric vehicles and are the battery of choice in AI data centers. Until recently, Western car and battery companies seemed to agree that there was no point...

SES AI CEO Qichao Hu has pivoted from batterymaking to scientific discovery with a database he calls Molecular Universe. Photo: Courtesy SES AI.

The Electric: The U.S. Is Good at Finding New Molecules. But Can it Turn Them Into Products?

By Steve LeVine · Mar 16, 2026 4:30am PDT

In manufacturing, some factories use so few humans that operators can turn out the lights and save money on electricity. In the pharmaceutical industry, too, AI has discovered new drugs with almost no human involvement after the prompt. In manufacturing, some factories use so few humans that operators can turn out the lights and...

Beta Technologies' Alia CCX300. Photo: Courtesy Beta

The Electric: Trump Administration Favors Conventional Electric Planes Over Jetson-Age Aircraft

By Steve LeVine · Mar 12, 2026 4:30am PDT

Beta Technologies' Alia CCX300. Photo: Courtesy Beta

The Electric: Trump Administration Favors Conventional Electric Planes Over Jetson-Age Aircraft

By Steve LeVine · Mar 12, 2026 4:30am PDT

For years, the subject of electric flying taxis conjured up images of sci-fi helicopters that looked like insects, took off and landed vertically, and flew almost silently above traffic-choked city streets. For years, the subject of electric flying taxis conjured up images of sci-fi helicopters that...

BYD founder Wang Chuanfu introduces ultra fast "flash charging" of electric vehicles last week in Shenzhen, China. Photo: VCG/Getty

The Electric: Its Sales Sliding, BYD Fights Back With a New Battery

By Steve LeVine · Mar 9, 2026 4:30am PDT

Last year, China’s BYD zoomed past Tesla to become the world’s leading seller of electric vehicles. Now both companies are in a serious slump: BYD’s year-on-year sales have dropped for six straight months, and Tesla has suffered two years of annual sales declines. Now other nimble EV players, mostly Chinese, are fighting for the global sales... Last year, China’s BYD zoomed past Tesla to become the world’s leading seller of electric...

Joby demonstrated its flying taxi in Dubai last week. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty

The Electric: The Iran War Creates Doubts About the Commercial Launch of Flying Taxis This Year

By Steve LeVine · Mar 5, 2026 4:30am PST

Last week, Joby Aviation and Uber announced a new collaboration in Dubai: Later this year, people opening the Uber app would be able to choose between standard offerings such as UberX and a new option—flying to their destination by electric air taxi.Three days later, President Donald Trump ordered his attack on Iran, largely grounding civilian... Last week, Joby Aviation and Uber announced a new collaboration in Dubai: Later this year, people...

Firebird Metals plans to mine Western Australia's Oakover deposit. Photo: Courtesy Firebird.

The Electric: This Startup Says Winning in Critical Minerals Means Learning From the Chinese

By Steve LeVine · Mar 2, 2026 4:30am PST

Ford and General Motors are banking on a new manganese-based battery to leapfrog China in the EV battery race. The catch is that they won’t break China’s stranglehold on the global supply of the material that goes into the battery—high-purity manganese. Ford and General Motors are banking on a new manganese-based battery to leapfrog China in the EV...

Form Energy's Weirton, W.Va. facility. Photo: Courtesy Form

Exclusive From The Electric: A $1 Billion Payday From Google For Battery Startup Form Energy

By Steve LeVine · Feb 26, 2026 4:30am PST

Form Energy's Weirton, W.Va. facility. Photo: Courtesy Form

Exclusive From The Electric: A $1 Billion Payday From Google For Battery Startup Form Energy

By Steve LeVine · Feb 26, 2026 4:30am PST

Since it launched nine years ago, next-generation battery developer Form Energy has faced a single skeptical question: Do businesses really need a battery that lasts 100 hours or longer? Since it launched nine years ago, next-generation battery developer Form Energy has faced a...