Doug discusses his role and involvement with regards to EV batteries, industry challenges, what he is looking forward to at the event and why it is important for engineers to attend.
Q: Could you briefly explain your role, involvement, and experience with regards to EV batteries?
Doug Johnson-Poensgen, Circulor (DJP): Circulor is the global leader in battery passport solutions. With offices around the world, Ciruclor enables companies to gain visibility into their supply chains to demonstrate responsible and sustainable sourcing and prove their ESG and GHG goals. Core products include EU battery regulation compliant battery passports and US EV tax credits certificates enacted by the Inflation Reduction Act 2022.
I founded Circulor in 2017 when looking at potential use-cases of blockchain and other emerging technologies to overcome the human rights and sustainability issues inherent in mining and processing cobalt - a critical mineral used in batteries. Volvo Cars, with Circulor’s support, was the first carmaker in 2019 to have full traceability of its cobalt. Today, Circulor has extensive experience in all principal cathode and anode battery materials, tracking and tracing lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, copper, graphite and mica together with a suite of their associated ESG metrics (in human rights, emissions, water etc). We also provide traceability to other renewable energy supply chains, including solar and wind power.
What and how companies disclose information about their supply chains is an evolving space, with a raft of new regulations and proliferation of new standards globally. Circulor works with regulators and industry associations to demonstrate the state of the art and show what technology can do. This is especially timely given incoming battery regulations, like the EU Battery Regulation, the German Battery Pass, and the US Inflation Reduction Act all of which have implications for the global EV battery industry and their supply chains.
Q: Many OEMs are pledging to be fully electric by 2030/2035, in light of this what would you say we need next to ensure a mainly electric vehicle presence in the market in the UK?
DJP: The main hurdles are the affordability of EVs, effective and ubiquitous charging infrastructure and manufacturing EVs more sustainably. There is a significant undersupply of the critical minerals necessary to manufacture the volume of EVs required, and all countries are strategically over reliant on China for the processing of these materials and the manufacture and recycling of batteries.
The UK is some way behind efforts in the EU and the US to establish meaningful capacity to meet expected demand in all these dimensions.
It is critical that auto OEMs source sufficient supply of critical minerals that are responsibly mined and sustainably produced, from reliable and secure suppliers. The UK is a long way behind other countries in this regard.
Q: What do you think is the main area in the battery lifecycle that needs development to ensure a net-zero carbon lifecycle to match the 2050 target?
DJP: The vast majority of EV emissions are inherited from the supply chain. Therefore, to reduce CO2 emissions, relevant data collected along the entire supply chain is critical to drive decision making to strategically restructure supply chains for reduced emissions and responsible sourcing. Digitising the battery lifecycle and gathering this data is possible through the creation of a battery passport.
Giving batteries a digital identity can help achieve circular economies, also key to achieving net-zero, by enabling pathways to second-life and recycling more quickly and efficiently. It also helps companies improve performance, minimize risk, ensure responsible sourcing, and provide proof of recycled content.
Q: What key topics are you excited to discuss at this year's conference?
DJP: I look forward to sharing insights on the diverse benefits of supply chain traceability, including the creation of a battery passport and compliance with upcoming global regulations.
The forthcoming EU Battery Regulation, for example, requires batteries that are manufactured or placed into service in the European market to prove their embedded carbon emissions as early as July 2024 and to be equipped with a digital battery passport that provides production as well as sustainable and responsible sourcing details as early as 2026.
With transparency and battery passports, exact volumes of virgin and used materials on the market can be known, greater collaboration across diverse suppliers can be forged, and greater efficiency in production cycles can be created. We’re already working with a number of companies providing them with the data needed to give them peace of mind and continuous proof that they’re meeting sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
Q: Regarding new technologies for battery use and operation, what would you say are the ones to watch for the future?
DJP: The focus on EV range has been an orthodoxy in Europe which is starting to be challenged by a focus on speed of charging, as well as cost considerations driving different chemistries.
Q: Who else are you most interested in hearing from on the programme?
DJP: Given our supply chain focus, I’m looking forward to the panel on day one on ‘Managing the battery supply-chain’, especially hearing from Greg Bogie from Green Lithium and the talk by Fergal Harrington-Beatty from AMTE Power on sodium-ion batteries to understand the possibilities to reduce reliance on lithium - a supply constrained, geopolitical critical mineral.
Given my engineering background, I’m looking forward to the talks on battery design and safety, including Parmjeet Plahe from Jaguar Land Rover and Prof. Paul Shearing, on the Science of Battery Safety.
Q: Why is it important for engineers to join this year’s International EV Batteries conference?
DJP: Batteries are essential to the energy transition. Arguably the defining problem of our lifetimes. The conference will involve many innovative and technical discussions on pressing issues surrounding the battery industry right now.
This year’s International EV Batteries conference will be taking place on 8-9 November 2022 in the heart of the world famous Grand Prix circuit at Silverstone. To book your place, please visit www.imeche.org/evbatteries.