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The Energy Storage Future: New ideas, New Innova- tions, New Collaborations Group 14 Technolgies Group 14 Technolgies Table of Contents Driving Toward a 5 Clean Energy Economy by Bob Lutz Manufacturing Gap 6 Stifles U.S. Innovation by Doug Morris Will the U.S. Compete in Clean Tech? 8 by Steven Visco Better Batteries are Just the Beginning 10 by Dr. Henry “Rick” Constantino Energy Storage Breakthroughs Are 12 Coming – and They Will Be Game Changers by Jun Liu A Clean Power Future Requires 14 Faster Innovation Time to Pick up the Pace of Battery Innovation by Daniel Schwartz Q&A with John Chen 16 G14 and John Chen Conclusion 18 by Rick Luebbe Group 14 Technologies 4 Group 14 Technologies Driving Toward a Clean Energy Economy Building a broad-based clean energy To get EVs to a tipping point, we will economy in the United States would bring need to improve both cost and perfor- major benefits. Despite our recent gains in mance to compete with gas powered domestic oil and gas production, America’s engines. And those same improvements industries and everyday citizens are still could stimulate related innovations that vulnerable to price hikes and supply shocks make our computers, phones, appli- from overseas producers. Volatile supply ances and gadgets work better, last and pricing have plagued our economy longer, charge faster and cost less. for too long. Reducing our dependency on All of this requires advances in tech- petroleum by expanding the use of renew- nology and materials, which is the focus able electricity would stimulate economic of Group14 Technologies. It has assembled growth and increase our energy security. a team of brilliant minds focused on commercializing cost-effective, advanced Reducing our depen- silicon-carbon composite anode materials for lithium-ion batteries -- breakthrough dency on petroleum science that will help push batteries to by expanding the use the next level. They know the importance of cost and scalability. They know that BOB LUTZ of renewable elec- showing impressive lab data is a long way GROUP 14 TECHNOLOGIES tricity would stimu- from a successful product, and even farther BOARD MEMBER from creating a change in the industry. late economic growth and increase our By driving innovation that dramatically improves lithium-Ion battery performance, energy security. Group 14 Technologies is pushing us closer to the day when electric cars are the stan- dard. And that in turn will unlock potential In support of this goal, our government, U.S. economic growth, powered by stable, industry leaders and research labs have reliable domestic sources of energy. spent a lot of time and money exploring technology needed to build electric vehicles. But today, EVs are still no more than a niche product. That’s because the current price and performance of EV batteries is not competitive with internal combustion engines. EVs are too expen- sive, still have limited range, and are inconvenient to re-charge. We need to build cars that consumers want to buy. Obviously they must be affordable for everyone. Tesla, for example, makes some beautiful EVs, but they are too expen- sive for most people. Even the sales of more affordable EVs and hybrids often slump when gasoline prices are low. 5 Group 14 Technologies Manufacturing Gap Stifes U.S. Innovation The historical decline in U.S. manufacturing developing a new cell can be so difficult capacity has spurred vigorous discus- and so expensive that they end up settling sion on the loss of domestic factory jobs, for the next closest thing they can find. That notably to China and greater Asia. But that usually means their product won’t perform decline also creates less obvious prob- as well as it could. If we were able to lems. Namely, it stifles innovation here at produce cells in the United States that could home, leaving promising new consumer enable product manufacturers to get special product technologies just out of reach. sizes and special chemistries more freely, a tremendous boost in access to new and In the energy storage industry, a lot innovative new technologies would occur. of cutting edge research is driven by smaller companies working to make batteries more powerful, longer lasting, In the energy storage less expensive and faster charging. Many new technologies have been delayed industry, a lot of for years simply because they can’t find cutting edge research an easy path into a factory. It can take a decade or even longer to develop the is driven by smaller DOUG MORRIS new materials to enable these improve- companies working to CEO, POLARIS BATTERY LABS ments. And that’s just too long. make batteries more Imagine if your laptop computer or cord- powerful, longer lasting, less drill had 50 percent longer battery life, or if you could fully charge your phone less expensive and in 15 minutes at an airport kiosk. Even bigger benefits could come in the electric faster charging. Many vehicle market. Today, you might sit in a new technologies have coffee shop for an hour waiting for your car to charge. Technology in the works now been delayed for years could let you pull in to a service center simply because they and swap out a depleted battery for a new one, or to fully recharge your existing can’t fnd an easy path battery, in less than five minutes, much into a factory. It can like a visit to the gas station today. And better storage technology on the power take a decade or even grid is one of the few remaining barriers longer to develop the to a massive expansion of cost-compet- itive renewable energy across the U.S. new materials to enable To accelerate commercialization of these these improvements. new technologies, startup companies need And that’s just too long. smaller batches of raw materials that are currently expensive and difficult to obtain from suppliers based in Asia. Larger orig- Asian suppliers have longstanding cost inal equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like advantages over U.S. industry, but today Apple and Samsung can generally get what that price gap is only 5 to 10 percent. Most they need at scale. But for many others, of that advantage comes from lower labor 6 Group 14 Technologies costs and government support. But the It might be possible to reduce labor costs full cost of Asian sourcing includes addi- through automation. Fully automated tional factors that aren’t easy to quantify. battery production lines are feasible, For example, support costs can be much along with technological improvements higher for a U.S. manufacturer relying that could lower production costs. Well- on a supplier in Asia. Quality control – placed government supports could assessing inventories and shipping them also reduce or eliminate the price gap back to a supplier – can come with signifi- between U.S. and Asian suppliers. cant costs in both time and money. Competitive pricing would certainly Supply assurance can also be more get the attention of large OEMs. But risky. Many Asian cell suppliers look at more important would be the ability to supporting U.S. contract business as kind buy better performing advanced cells, of a side note. If they’re in a slow period using new materials and new enhance- and they have some extra capacity, they’d ments that aren’t available today from be happy to have the work. But if they get suppliers in Asia. Supporting current busy, their interest can wane, even to the innovation occurring in the U.S. with point of ending the partnership. Major dedicated, nearby manufacturing muscle manufacturers buying in large quantities could accelerate production of more can find supply more readily. It’s the smaller flexible, versatile specialized cells that niche players than can get locked out. OEMs have waited years for. Until that time, OEMs will continue to buy the best Lastly, the lack of intellectual property product they can get at the lowest price, protection in some parts of Asia is a serious and consumers will continue to wait for concern, especially for companies that tantalizing product enhancements that have developed some kind of new tech- will forever seem just around the corner. nology. Not knowing that your manufac- turing partner will protect your secrets is risky and scary. And in general, that’s the case in China. If you could add up all the hidden costs and risks of sourcing from Asia, the price advantage compared to U.S. suppliers might evaporate completely. So, what would it take to bring battery manufacturing back to the United States? 7 Group 14 Technologies Will the U.S. Compete in Clean Tech? A friend of mine with a Ph.D. in chem- Much of the problem stems from short- istry once worked for a major consumer term thinking among business and political battery manufacturer, where he led a leaders. Big U.S. industrial companies are team researching rechargeable lithium very good at supply chain management, metal batteries. Shortly after launching his manufacturing, and cost reduction, but project, he presented his plan to senior struggle to foster a culture of innovation. company managers, one of whom said, U.S. battery companies are mostly stand- “Nice job, but to be fully honest with you, alone entities. They do employ Ph.D.s and I hope you fail.” The company was making research teams, but they aren’t focused lots of money selling throwaway batteries. on generating breakthrough technolo- Why would they want to mess with gies. They are often tasked with near term complicated, unproven new technology? goals such as incremental improve- ments for existing products to help the Technological advances like lithium company meet quarterly earnings targets.

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