Cobalt-free batteries reign in Chinese EVs. Why not the US?
Published on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 by NPR Business | Found on Glideslope.ai
There’s been an era-defining race underway between two types of batteries used in electric vehicles: lithium batteries that use cobalt, and ones that use iron phosphate. Cobalt, a metal with a checkered human rights record, has been in the lead. Until recently. Henry Sanderson’s book on the elements that build electric vehicles is Volt Rush: The Winners and Losers in the Race to Go Green.Related episodes: The race to produce lithium How batteries are already changing the grid How batteries are riding the free market rodeo in Texas How EV batteries tore apart Michigan (Update) Batteries are catching fire at sea For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
Pulse AI Analysis
Score: 25.00
Sentiment Score: 25.00 - Leaning optimistic.
This analysis was generated using Pulse AI, Glideslope's proprietary AI engine designed to interpret market sentiment and economic signals. Results are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice.
