Where is Michigan (and America) at with electric vehicles and battery technology? Gabrielle Coppola, a journalist at Bloomberg, joins me for a conversation on the Daily Detroit podcast.
Coppola wrote a very interesting piece, “America’s long, tortured journey to build EV batteries,” and it caught my eye because A123 systems — a Michigan company — was bought out of bankruptcy by Chinese investors and their cutting edge tech now is used over there. Over here? Americans are left having to license technology we created.
This conversation is about more than that, though. It’s about the immense change happening to the automotive industry, and what the challenges and opportunities really are for American automakers to compete in the EV and battery space.
Follow Gabrielle Coppola on social media:
X: https://twitter.com/gablova?lang=en
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@gablova
Episode rundown:
02:10 - Where are we at with EVs right now in the United States?
05:20 - Is Electric the future technology? What about alternatives?
07:20 - Automakers need to produce a lot of one car to make money
08:21 - Many people in auto industry are very worried about the future and how the changes coming will impact their lives
09:50 - It will take 30% fewer labor hours to make an electric car
11:18 - Carmakers are learning about batteries, and want to bring more in house
13:25 - Challenges for the future of suppliers and the jobs tied to them
14:40 - Michigan's lead with battery tech from A123 Systems that China bought out of bankruptcy and now uses as they speed ahead with EV adoption
25:22 - Why Michigan has to offer so many subsidies to battery plants, it's multiple levels.
26:42 - China does not make for a level playing field
27:41 - Competition with China is not a fair fight, and their government puts in seemingly endless dollars (we really don't know, there's no transparency)
28:26 - Thinking about quarters vs. generations
30:16 - Whatever America and American consumers decide to do, the rest of the world is not waiting on electric vehicles
30:58 - EVs are wrapped in political identity in America, despite any facts on the ground
34:37 - Michigan advantages for the road ahead
Feedback as always - dailydetroit - at - gmail - dot - com or 313-789-3211
Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonapple
Or Spotify: https://lnk.to/dailydetroitonspotify
Thanks to our members: http://www.patreon.com/dailydetroit
Or those who do a one-time contribution: http://www.buymeacoffee.com/dailydetroit
January things to do // Why not restaurant week in winter? // BD's Mongolian still exists
Insane football weekend // Prediction: Cade will leave Pistons
Predictions for 2024 (and how we did in 2023?)
It's the best of times (Lions) and worst of times (Pistons) in Detroit sports
New riverfront hotel to start construction // Detroit Policy Conference preview
Toronto transit cars may come to Detroit // Local Festivus grievances and more
The Bobcat and the reflecting pool // Woodward re-opens // Old radio building fate uncertain
Lions return to form // Pistons fans frustrated // New Comerica scoreboard // New Bucharest location
Working across city borders, transit, dealing with change and more w/ State Rep. Mike McFall
Should food trucks be restricted? And how much?
Unwrapping a new Michigan poll: Investment over tax cuts; Education worries
The Icon of Incompletion // 2023 Big Development Themes // Vacant Tall Buildings Sold
Should the NHL take concussions more seriously? // Lions vibe deteriorating // Steinwascher returns
Lessons learned running a bar in Detroit since 2005
Why developers turn apartments into condos, hotels // Trying Craig's Coffee
Trying Kiss Detroit Rock City rum // Randy's first QLINE ride // New shops?
Shianne's small and local business shopping tips across Metro Detroit
Jim Leyland Hall of Fame love // Can the Pistons pull up? // Lions, Michigan talk
Inside new spots in Detroit, Dan Gilbert pushes for regional transit
In-depth: America's first wireless electric charging road
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Morning Wire
The Daily
Up First
Today, Explained
Dobré ráno | Denný podcast denníka SME