Recharge Dec25 (Overstated forecasts, CATL, semi-solid batteries, battery costs, BESS)

In December 2025’s Recharge podcast, co-presenters Matt Fernley (Battery Materials Review) and Cormac O’Laoire (Electrios Energy) review the key developments shaping the battery materials and energy storage sectors as the industry heads into 2026, including:

• Why lithium demand forecasts may be overstated, including assumptions around lithium intensity per kWh and EV battery pack sizes
• EV battery size trends, affordability, and the divergence between Europe and China, including the role of SUVs, crossovers and EREVs
• What does NIO’s decision to stop selling its semi-solid battery mean for the market?
• Battery pricing trends, BNEF pack cost benchmarks, and whether 2025 marks the trough for cell and pack costs
• Capacity utilisation, pricing pressure and why older gigafactories risk becoming uncompetitive
• BESS market dynamics, including strong cell shipments, slower installations, inventory build-ups and project delays