No sugarcoating. No diplomatic cushioning. Just a stark reality check.
The Dunne Report is the hardest-hitting analysis I’ve read on the state of the EU battery and EV supply chain. The title alone - Revolutionary Change or Extinction - tells you everything you need to know about the urgency of the situation.
I’ve read plenty of reports on the EU’s EV and battery industries, but this one stands out. It’s data-driven, unapologetically blunt, and refreshingly clear in its conclusions. Himanshu Bhatt did an excellent job summarizing the report, but here are the takeaways I can’t stop thinking about:
🔋 The EU’s EV and battery industry is “old, slow, and out of sync.” We’ve seen it coming. While China’s EV sector races ahead, Europe is stuck in slow gear, weighed down by legacy systems and an inability to pivot fast enough.
🔋 Developing homegrown battery technology isn’t just about climate—it’s about survival. This isn’t optional. Battery tech is a cornerstone of military strength, energy independence, and industrial competitiveness. Without it, the EU risks becoming a geopolitical lightweight in an electricity-dominated future.
🔋 Here’s what the EU needs to do. Now:
Implement IRA-style government support schemes. The U.S. has shown how aggressive government backing can turbocharge an industry. The EU needs to follow suit, like, yesterday.
Partner with Korean and Japanese companies for know-how and tech transfer. Not just the big names like LG, Samsung, or Panasonic. There’s an entire ecosystem of small and mid-sized innovators in Korea and Japan ready to collaborate.
Leverage access to the EU EV market. The EU is the largest EV market outside of China. It’s time to use that as bargaining power, especially with Chinese overcapacity posing both a challenge and an opportunity.
But there’s one glaring omission in the report - legacy automakers.
Can Europe’s automotive giants compete with Chinese EV manufacturers? In my opinion - no. They’re too slow, too comfortable in their old ways. The EU needs new EV manufacturers. Apart from TOGG in Turkey, I don’t see many on the horizon. And that’s a problem.
What I find particularly groundbreaking in this report is its open call for partnerships with Korean and Japanese companies. This isn’t something you usually see in EU reports or policy documents. But it’s true - Europe needs outside expertise. And not just from the big players.
Take JR Energy Solution, for example. They’re a Korean manufacturer specializing in lithium-ion electrodes - the same components Northvolt struggled to produce. Companies like JR can bridge the tech and know-how gap Europe desperately needs to close.
If you’re interested in how Korean companies can help the EU achieve battery independence, let’s talk. The time for half-measures is over. It’s revolutionary change - or extinction.