Texas-based battery manufacturer, Microvast, has been thrust into the limelight following a collaboration agreement with GM, and a $200 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing initiative. This increased scrutiny comes as a result of the company’s significant business dealings in China, and the resultant risk to U.S. intelligence.
According to a report from Bloomberg, Microvast was one of 21 companies selected to receive a portion of the $2.8 billion in grant money that was made available by the bipartisan infrastructure bill. With its substantial ties to Chinese business – as well as the result of much political theater from senators like Joe Manchin – the Texas-based battery manufacturer has been singled out by politicians as a potential threat to the release of U.S. intellectual property.
As mentioned earlier, General Motors announced a collaborative effort with Microvast back in November 2022. This alliance is intended to help develop and produce innovative battery separator technology for use in future GM EVs. More specifically, GM will work with the Texas-based battery manufacturer to develop technologies that are expected to improve charging and battery life, as well as provide enhancements to safety.
In addition, this new separator tech is intended to work with nearly all types of lithium-ion batteries, such as graphite, silicon, and lithium-metal anodes, along with nickel-rich, cobalt-free, lithium iron phosphate-type, and high-voltage cathodes.
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“Microvast compartmentalizes know-how and trade secrets in the U.S.,”
Really???? Microvast has China subsidiaries as does their partner GM, however, because Microvast has "no IT connections" to these Chinese subsidiaries then of course no information could possibly find its way to China. Certainly GM wouldn't allow it!! GM is a patriotic American company who would never use US taxpayer money illegally to develop intellectual property and then leak it to China! How absurd.
Meanwhile, let's point out the "political theater" that politicians like Joe Manchin are conducting by trying to verify that granting Microvast $200,000,000 will not result in their leaking the technology to China.
If they have any connection with China, there’s intellectual theft. China doesn’t allow business unless there is a way for them to rob USA companies. Sure, it’s probably not the meatiest part of the sandwich their stealing, but Microvast is getting the shaft somewhere along the line. Time to pull out of China and build literally anywhere else
Very embarrassing for the US to be concerned over just $200M. I think we have all forgotten that China is the global leader in battery R&D, commercialization, and manufacturing. It's kind of like me being worried my pasta recipe will be stolen by a Sicilian.
Also it is not just embarrassing but ironic given that GM has a major R&D battery lab in China, ran by Chinese scientists. It's not surprising because it is after all China that is leading in this field. China got to where it is because their government invested in next generation technology despite the risk of it "falling into American hands". This includes buying the LFP rights, commercializing it, and turning it into major market economy for themselves. This seems like one of those situations where you are stepping over dollars to pickup pennies.
If Biden drilled more we wouldn't need EVs.