How can the US protect a North American lithium battery supply chain?

To protect U.S. security and critical interests on several fronts, the U.S. government must act immediately to support the timely development of a North American lithium battery supply chain based on U.S. know-how and free from the threat of foreign supply constraints. III. The Li-Bridge Initiative

What is the National Blueprint for lithium batteries?

The National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries, produced by the FCAB in 2021, outlined a vision for the U.S. lithium battery supply chain. It states:

What should the US government do about the lithium battery market?

The U.S. government must take actions to enhance the expected returns on financial investments in U.S.‐based lithium battery supply chain‐related projects (e.g., battery materials, components, cells, or manufacturing equipment) and reduce the perception of demand uncertainty in the U.S. battery market.

Does the US military have direct access to lithium batteries & chemistries?

The U.S. military today does not have direct, domestic access to the most advanced lithium batteries and chemistries to power its troops, vehicles, bases, and weapons systems. Foreign countries, including some that are potential adversaries, also control the upstream and midstream supply chain for those batteries.

How can we build a sustainable lithium battery supply chain?

Building a robust and sustainable lithium battery supply chain across the United States and its allies will require effort from multiple state, local and federal government agencies as well as private industry. Many of those efforts are already underway.

Why is the US relying on a global lithium battery supply chain?

The United States relies (and, without intervention, will continue to rely) on a global lithium battery supply chain that is highly vulnerable to disruption, as seen in Figure 1. Two issues account for this vulnerability. First, global manufacturing capacity for batteries and battery materials is highly concentrated.