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General Market Commentary
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General Energy
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General Market Commentary
Despite slowdown in EV sales, Li-ion batteries remain critical -report
A report by market analyst Roskill states that the slowdown in the Chinese EV market during H2-2019 and the covid-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on demand projections for Li-ion batteries.
According to Roskill, previous analyses show that, across the world, sales of plug-in EVs have fallen 30% year-on-year in Q1 2020, equivalent to roughly 5.5GWh of battery capacity.
To make matters worse, continued disruption in 2020 is expected, with monthly plug-in EV sales in key markets forecast to be reduced by 70% or 80% while lockdown conditions ensue.
“These disruptions come at a key stage for many automotive OEMs looking to break into the plug-in EV industry,” the report states. “Automotive manufacturers have scheduled launches of a series of new EV models, though increasing sales of higher-margin vehicles such as luxury and SUV models were required to support this transition to EVs.”
In the study, Roskill states that, even if they are short-termed, the disruptions to EV sales may have long-term implications, not only to further investment in plug-in EV models but also on legislation in China and Europe, if financial penalties become too damaging to key industry participants.