GreenergyDaily

Mar. 12, 2025

1. The Department of Homeland Security would be barred from buying batteries from Chinese companies under legislation the House passed in a broader bid.

2. The “Decoupling from Foreign Adversarial Battery Dependence Act” (H.R. 1166) aims to restrict procurement of batteries from six companies that have drawn complaints from US officials about alleged human rights abuses, supply chain vulnerabilities, and privacy concerns. The House passed the measure by voice vote Monday, and it now moves to the Senate, where it’s likely to attract bipartisan support.

3. The six companies affected by the bill are: Contemporary Amperex Technology Company, Ltd; BYD Company, Ltd; Envision Energy, Ltd; EVE Energy Company, Ltd; Hithium Energy Storage Technology company, Ltd; and Gotion High-Tech Company, Ltd.

4. The bill’s supporters say US reliance on Chinese lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in commercial vehicles and military equipment, poses an economic and security threat. China produces around 80% of the world’s batteries and sells them at a lower cost than US and European manufacturers, according to BloombergNEF.

5. H.R. 1166 was introduced by Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security. We were already late to recognize the PRC’s battery threat, and we cannot afford to do it again. I urge my Senate colleagues to pass this bill so we can get it to the president’s desk as soon as possible.”