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Amprius CEO: 'Battery Business Is an Asian Business'Amprius CEO: 'Battery Business Is an Asian Business'

The CEO of Amprius highlights US battery manufacturing challenges and emphasizes investment opportunities, manufacturing innovation, and infrastructure for electric mobility.

Maria Guerra, Senior Editor-Battery Technology

October 15, 2024

5 Min Read
E-mobility opportunities and challenges.
Panelists at The Battery Show North America from left to right: Alexander Carbone, Private Equity Investor at Clairvest Group; Kang Sun, CEO at Amprius; Chris Turner, CTO at Inventus Power; Brian Morin, CEO at Soteria Battery Innovation Group; and David Donovick, President and COO at Zin Boats.Maria Guerra

Dr Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius, recently shared valuable insights during a panel discussion titled "Investment Trends and Opportunities in Electric Mobility." This panel explored the diverse opportunities in e-mobility, involving all electrified vehicles operating on land, sea, or air. Unlike the typical focus on passenger electric vehicles (EVs) and trucks, Sun's insights provided a comprehensive look into the challenges, investment areas, and potential for growth in these less-explored markets within the e-mobility landscape in the US. Additionally, he described how Amprius is positioning itself in it.

Challenges in US battery manufacturing

1. Lack of manufacturing expertise:

Sun emphasized the shortage of skilled labor and practical experience in the US regarding battery manufacturing. Asian companies have long dominated the industry, and the US has struggled to keep pace. "The battery business is an Asian business. For example, Amperex Technology Limited (ATL) was founded in 1999. Here in the US, we don't have battery engineers, we don’t have skills, and we don't have battery manufacturing knowledge. We have academic knowledge but very little practical knowledge." said Sun.

According to Sun, this lack of expertise has led to a dependence on foreign workers from countries like South Korea and Japan for key positions in US battery factories. Without a more robust talent pipeline, the US will continue to face challenges in scaling its battery manufacturing industry.

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2. Regulatory hurdles:

Sun noted the regulative complexities also slow the process of setting up new battery manufacturing facilities in the US. Whether a facility is being established on a brownfield or greenfield site, the regulatory process can take up to three years, hindering growth in this critical sector.

In addition, Sun pointed out that infrastructure gaps also pose challenges for electrifying other sectors, like marine transportation. He specifically noted the lack of charging infrastructure for marine vessels at marinas and ports, which prevents the electrification of boats and ships. Unlike the rapidly growing EV charging network for cars, there is little infrastructure to charge marine vessels once they reach their destination, highlighting a significant hurdle for the sector.

Marine power infrastructure

3. Limited government incentives:

Sun also indicated the lack of government support beyond the EV market. While the Biden administration has heavily focused on boosting EV adoption, other sectors like aviation, military equipment, and marine electrification have received little support. "Today, there are no significant government incentives supporting industries beyond EVs. There are a lot of challenges in electric mobility beyond EV in the US," Sun explained.

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4. High costs of establishing battery factories:

According to Sun, building battery factories in the US is also extremely costly, especially for companies not focused on the mass production of EV batteries. Sun noted that every EV factory requires the capacity to support at least 250,000 cars to be profitable, which is why Amprius has refrained from entering the EV space immediately.

Areas of investment and opportunity

Despite these challenges, Sun identified several critical areas where investment can unlock growth and innovation in the US battery sector.

1. Cell chemistry and design

Aviation, marine, and military applications require unique cell chemistries that balance energy density, performance, and cost-effectiveness. Sun said that by focusing on advanced cell chemistries tailored to these specific needs, US manufacturers can establish themselves in emerging markets that demand high-performance batteries. “Applications  like two-wheelers or scooters require very unique cell chemistry; not only do they need high-performance, but they also need a very competitive cost.” He said.

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2. Manufacturing process innovation

Sun also observed that innovating the manufacturing process is also crucial. As battery requirements become more complex, there is a need for advanced multi-stack configurations and other techniques to reduce risks like thermal runaway and improve efficiency. Investing in manufacturing technologies will enable US manufacturers to meet the stringent demands of modern battery applications.

3. Infrastructure development

There is also a significant need for investment in charging infrastructure, particularly for sectors outside of EVs. Sun stressed the need for expanding charging and battery-swapping infrastructure for scooters, marine vessels, and other light electric vehicles. He said that countries like Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines have already begun developing battery-swapping infrastructure for scooters, but the US lags in providing similar solutions.

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Sun highlighted the importance of addressing these infrastructure gaps, such as the ones for marine transportation, where there is a lack of charging capabilities at marinas and ports. This presents a significant opportunity for investment, as enabling charging at these locations is key to supporting the electrification of boats and ships.

Amprius technologies in advanced applications

Amprius Technologies is at the forefront of developing advanced battery solutions for a range of applications. According to Sun, the company supports four main types of aviation devices:

  1. High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS): Amprius provides high-performance batteries for unmanned vehicles, and Airbus is one of its largest customers.

  2. Drones: Amprius designs batteries for logistics, entertainment, agricultural, and military drones for one-way attack (UWA).

  3.  Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) or air taxis: eVTOL aircraft are a significant focus for Amprius, requiring high-power-density batteries. Sun emphasized that these aircraft must have a cruising distance of at least 400 miles. "eVTOLs need to have crew cruising distance. They have to fly 400 miles at least. Otherwise, they don't make money," he said.

  4. Electric Aircraft: Amprius is also developing batteries for 19-passenger electric aircraft, which are easier to certify under current regulations.

Sun’s insights highlight the significant challenges facing the US battery manufacturing industry, from talent shortages to regulatory delays and the lack of infrastructure in sectors like marine electrification. However, by focusing on advanced cell chemistries, manufacturing innovations, and infrastructure development, the US has opportunities to drive growth and establish leadership in emerging markets.

About the Author

Maria Guerra

Senior Editor-Battery Technology, Informa Markets Engineering

Battery Technology Senior Editor Maria L. Guerra is an electrical engineer with a background in Oil & Gas consulting and experience as a Power/Analog Editor for Electronic Design.  Maria graduated from NYU Tandon School of Engineering with a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE). She combines her technical expertise with her knack for writing. 

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