Global Scans · Batteries · Weekly Summary

• [New] AB 2440 establishes a comprehensive EPR program for loose and removable batteries, shifting end-of-life management costs to battery producers. JD Supra
• [New] Virtually all net new electrical generating capacity in 2026 will be provided by solar, wind, and batteries according to a new forecast released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Environment America
• [New] By 2035, China is projected to supply over 60% of refined lithium and cobalt, around 80% of battery-grade graphite and rare earth elements, and approximately 70% of battery-grade manganese. ODI: Think change
• [New] In 2026, renewables and battery storage will account for 99.2% of net new capacity - and even higher if small-scale solar were included. Electrek
• [New] EIA forecasts 69,579.1 MW of new utility-scale renewables and battery storage over the next 12 months. reNEWS - Renewable Energy News
• [New] Solar, wind and battery storage are forecast to provide almost all net new US generating capacity in 2026. reNEWS - Renewable Energy News
• [New] Australia's coal phase-out is driving large-scale renewables and battery energy storage system opportunities, with M&A potential across platform expansions. PwC
• [New] Hybrid volumes surging across Ford, Toyota, and Hyundai, meaning more vehicles with dual powertrains and high-voltage battery systems will be arriving in shop bays over the next several years. Autobody News
• [New] Volkswagen is issuing a nationwide recall for more than 44,000 electric ID-4 SUVs, citing a high-voltage battery defect that could increase the risk of fires. masslive
• [New] A sustained supply shock in battery metals could lead to significant price increases for consumers. Batteries News
• [New] Large-scale batteries are set to make up a greater share of Australia's electricity grid than gas by 2027. Australian Financial Review
• [New] The European Union's battery regulations now enforce strict recycling efficiency requirements (e.g., > 95% recovery of cobalt and nickel by 2030 status). openpr
• [New] Global battery manufacturing capacity is projected to increase by 400% between 2025 and 2030, requiring substantial increases in nickel, cobalt, and copper availability that existing terrestrial mining operations cannot readily supply. Discovery Alert
• [New] By 2027, scanning a QR code on a battery will reveal its chemistry, origin, health status and carbon footprint. The Astana Times
• [New] The U.S. Department of Energy plans to provide $2.91 billion to boost production of the advanced batteries, including electric vehicles and energy storage. Gray
• [New] The electric power sector plans to expand battery capacity in ERCOT from about 15 GW in 2025 to 37 GW by the end of 2027. EIA - Energy Information Administration
• [New] Battery capacity in ERCOT is expected to grow from about 15 gigawatts in 2025 to 37 gigawatts by the end of 2027. SolarQuarter
• [New] Technological advancements in 2026, such as the commercialization of solid-state batteries, could reshape demand for critical battery metals. Mexico Business
• [New] EV batteries averaged around $150 per kWh in 2022 and are expected to fall toward $80 per kWh in 2026. Fleet Management Weekly
• [New] 2026 will mark the first year of large-scale industrialization for sodium-ion batteries. SEMIVISION
• [New] The EV and battery storage boom will sustain high lithium demand well into the next decade. Farmonaut
• [New] Battery Recycling Expansion: Lithium recycling is projected to comprise an increasing share of global supply by 2026, though it remains a minority share for now. Farmonaut

Last updated: 01 February 2026