Our battery world is dynamic. Tesla once lead the electric car field – with Volkswagen in the top five – a few years ago. Now, five of the ten biggest EV brands are in China, and it’s no coincidence. The simple fact of the matter is China’s EVs and their batteries are cheaper. Now, suddenly, out of the blue, the Norwegian coastal town of Arendal joins the battery race, as a wannabe manufacturer.
Why Arendal and Why a Battery Factory Now?
Well, first of all, local demand for electric car batteries is already there. By 2023, nine of ten new cars sold in Norway were already electric vehicles. And, what’s more, the Norwegian government expects all new car sales to be zero-emission by the end of this year.
The next question of course is, where is Arendal going to source their technical skills? They are ahead of the pack here again, because their Morrow battery factory has some significant backers. These include a super-wealthy investor, and a private company with more than 50 hydro power stations in Europe.
Arendal joins the battery race with some significant backing. It’s not surprising that Morrow has its eyes on lithium iron phosphate batteries. These have successfully propelled China to pole position, and no wonder, because they are cheaper, last longer, and deliver better driving ranges.
First Renewables, Then EV Batteries in Arendal Too!
The Morrow factory is proving its mettle by manufacturing storage for wind and solar farms first. There is already a proven market for these, and there will be companies keen to favor local manufacture.
If all goes well, and we find no evidence suggesting it will not, then Morrow envisages expanding its range to EV batteries by 2029. There are already another three lithium-iron phosphate battery factories in the pipeline for the Norwegian town!
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