Rechargeable batteries– potentials and future challenges

Abstract

In most of the countries the governments decides to reopen their economies after months of total economy shutdown. The time will prove if it was too early or if we will have a second wave and how people will react to that. In any case, many governments, at least from EU, seized the opportunity and decided to grant financial aids to most important companies under the conditions of investing in research and development of new products, less fossil fuel consuming. For example, Airbus will receive from French government a total financial aid of 15 billion EUR. Out of this amount, 1.5 billion euros will be invested over three years in researching into new environmentally friendly aviation technology. For the automotive industry, French president Macron announced 8 billion EUR financial aids, but under the condition to produce over 1 million clean-energy vehicles in the country by 2025. Giving the circumstances, it appears that rechargeable batteries (one of the main component of electric vehicles but very important also in other industries as mobile phone, tablets, laptops, cameras, e-bikes, medical devices, etc.) will be an area of maximum importance in the next years, therefore analysing the impact of political decisions taken after coronavirus crises in this sector might be very useful. JEL: L 72; O 10; Q 53; R 48.