Podcast

Why this battery maker’s downfall still haunts America

The failure of A123 Systems underscores the complexity of U.S. clean energy manufacturing strategy.

On The Carbon Copy podcast this week:

As we evaluate the Biden administration’s approach to building back domestic manufacturing and climate-positive infrastructure, we keep coming back to one question: What makes the current push different from Obama-era efforts? 

You can’t answer that question without exploring the factors behind the demise of some companies of the Cleantech 1.0 era — in particular, the story of A123 Systems.

This week, we’re talking with Gabrielle Coppola, a Bloomberg auto-industry journalist, about her new magazine feature focusing on America’s tortured journey to build EV batteries.

A123 Systems was supposed to represent the next generation of domestic manufacturing. Instead, it showed how America excels at inventing new energy technologies but not at building them.

The Carbon Copy is supported by FischTank PR, a public relations, strategic messaging and social media agency dedicated to elevating the work of climate and clean energy companies. Learn more about FischTank’s approach to cleantech and their services at fischtankpr.com.

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