Budapest Outdoor Power Supply Assembly Plant

Are EU-wide rules affecting battery supply chains in Poland & Hungary?

External experts commissioned by T&E find no EU-wide or national requirements on technology transfer and breaches of air pollution rules from battery factories in Poland and Hungary. T&E calls on clear foreign investment rules and a comprehensive European strategy for battery supply chains.

Why is Hungarian battery industry so poor?

In Hungary, further concerns around insufficient water management plants and energy supply are also revealed. These environmental breaches in these two plants add up to the poor working conditions largely reported in the Hungarian battery industry.

Will Europe become an assembly plant for EVs?

While this won’t delay EV targets as plentiful global battery cell supply exists, this entails serious geopolitical, economic and security risks. Coupled with restrictions on technology transfer in China, and despite the many Chinese and South Korean plans to build battery factories to date, Europe risks becoming an assembly plant.

What are the environmental issues affecting a cathode plant in Hungary?

Both facilities have breached the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive on air pollution, as they exceeded the levels for NMP, a toxic substance used in cathode manufacturing. In Hungary, further concerns around insufficient water management plants and energy supply are also revealed.

Will Europe become an assembly plant?

Coupled with restrictions on technology transfer in China, and despite the many Chinese and South Korean plans to build battery factories to date, Europe risks becoming an assembly plant. Policy recommendations: Make use of all instruments to assert more local control and local content.

Can Europe build a world-leading battery industry?

T&E calls on clear foreign investment rules and a comprehensive European strategy for battery supply chains. Europe’s ambition to build a world-leading battery industry is facing many headwinds. As local plans falter, over 90% electric car and storage batteries are produced by South Korean and Chinese companies in the EU.