Manufacturers call on policymakers to back all battery technologies and incentivise made in Europe, or risk falling behind

News release

17.06.26

Batteries made in Europe must become a strategic imperative according to manufacturers from European companies at the launch of the Consortium for Battery Innovation’s EU roadmap in Brussels.

The Consortium’s roadmap, Sustaining Europe’s battery powerhouse, sets performance targets for the next wave of advanced lead batteries: developed in Europe, made in Europe and recycled in Europe.

Dr Christian Rosenkranz, Chairman of CBI and Vice President of Industry and Governmental Relations EMEA at Clarios, speaking at the launch on June 16, said: “To avoid falling behind, the EU must create a level playing field for all battery chemistries and remain technology neutral. We have a real homegrown success story through the EU lead battery value chain and it’s important to protect what matters in terms of our industrial base by supporting all chemistries. If we don’t do this Europe risks falling behind, and that is something we cannot afford to do.”

Dr Rosenkranz also called on EU policy makers to consider incentives like those available to manufacturers in the United States where tax credit schemes are used to boost domestic investment. “We need to be more focused on boosting made in Europe if we’re to remain globally competitive,” he said.

EU manufacturers joined CBI to launch the EU the innovation roadmap in Brussels, as policy-makers grapple with the need to meet growing demand for energy storage.

CBI’s Executive Director, Dr Alistair Davidson, said: “Only by adopting a technology-neutral approach can Europe secure a competitive and sustainable battery ecosystem that’s fit for purpose in the coming decade.”

He added that advanced lead batteries – which are vital in applications and industries from automotive and back-up to defence and nuclear facilities – are already developed in Europe, made in Europe and recycled as all lead batteries collected at end of life are recycled and used to make new batteries.

CBI members have already met goals and targets set in previous roadmaps. The EU innovation roadmap sets new targets for increasing energy density and cycle life as well as better recharge capability.

Speakers at the roadmap launch included Dr Bernhard Reigel, Director of Research & Development, Hoppecke; Dr Begum Bozkaya, Senior Technical Manager, CBI; Dr James Watson, Director General, European Metals; and Jacopo Tosoni, Deputy Secretary General at Energy Storage Europe.

The roadmap was compiled by CBI’s Senior Technical Director Dr Matt Raiford and Senior Technical Manager Dr Begum Bozkaya.

More information about the Consortium for Battery Innovation’s global research programme can be found at https://batteryinnovation.org. The EU CBI Battery Innovation Roadmap will be made publicly available in the coming weeks.

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Note to editors:

The Consortium for Battery Innovation is a global battery pre-competitive research consortium with offices in Brussels, the United States and the United Kingdom.

For more information please contact the CBI media team on +44 (O)7718 483887