Among their explanations are stiff competition,overspending, allegations ofmismanagement, and a lack of state support.
Northvolt may be bankrupt, but the fight for a strong European battery ecosystem is far from over.
Thats the consensus from several tech investors and startups weve spoken to in recent weeks.
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Creating asustainableand competitive battery value chain inEurope, though, will be littered with challenges.
One of them competition from the East may be insurmountable.
Together, these two nationssuppliedEurope with 90% of its batteries last year.
Asian battery manufacturers have been steadily expanding their reach into Europeanstartups, too.
Gotion acquired a 25% stake in Slovakias InoBat in 2023.
Founded in 2019, the battery startup has raised $400mn to date, with Gotion a major backer.
The batteries will be destined for EVs and electric aircraft.
Global cooperation offers the strongest path to commercial success, he tells TNW.
Ilika is shipping its first samples to 17 automakers this year, the company said.
Instead of building a gigafactory, the UK-based outfit plans to license its technology to other companies.
Ilika has a long-standing research partnership with Japanese automotive giant Toyota.
For European startups, the appeal of partnering with East Asian battery makers is obvious.
They have the tech, scale, and supply chain efficiency that Europe lacks.
However, that reliance comes with risks.
Opportunities and threats
The dependence on Chinese companies has sparked several concerns.
He hopes Europewill use the foundation that Northvolt had provided to establish its own competitive battery industry.
Northvolts operations in Sweden are now up for sale.
When it comes tolithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, China has won, he says.
Northvolt should have realised that earlier they moved to new innovative materials too late.
Kevin Brundish, CEO of Dutch battery maker LionVolt, agrees.
Hes adamant that Europes expertise in next-generation battery tech is keeping the dream of battery sovereignty within grasp.
LionVolt spun out from TNOs Holst Centre in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, in 2020.
LionVolt is one of an emerging cohort of startups looking to disrupt the status quo of battery manufacturing.
Cambridge University spinoff Molyon has developed alithium-sulfur batterythatit claims delivers twice the energy density of lithium-ion.
Swedens Enerpoly is building a factory that makeszinc-ion batteriesfor energy storage, which doesnt rely on supplies of lithium.
Netherlands-based CarbonX is developing alternative anode materials that could help wean Europe offChina-controlledgraphite.
While most of these startups are focusing on subcomponents, there may also be a place for bigger players.
A route to battery independence
Frances Verkor was arguably the only European contender to Northvolt.
That will require venture capital but also significant public funding.
Northvolts fall is a cautionary tale, but not the end of the road.
If Europe wants battery sovereignty, it must act decisively, pouring funds where theyre needed most.
Europes technological sovereignty will be a hot topic atTNW Conference, which takes place on June 19-20 in Amsterdam.
Tickets for the event arenow on sale.
Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 at the check-out to get 30% off the price tag.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
