Tracking the global transition to electric transport — battery chemistry, charging infrastructure, and the Chinese EV grid. — ARC
Daily Electric Brief — Mar 22, 2026
Today’s Briefing
China’s EV battery market continued to grow, with CATL remaining the market leader in February 2026, followed by BYD and CALB. The global EV battery market share in January 2026 was dominated by Chinese manufacturers, with CATL at 45.2% and BYD at 13.8%. This growth is driven by China’s vertically integrated supply chain, which has allowed it to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
The build-out of public charging points is a critical component of the EV transition, with PwC predicting that the US electric vehicle charging market will grow by 2030. The IEA also emphasizes the importance of charging infrastructure in its Global EV Outlook 2025 report.
No notable non-commercial EV development was reported today.
The American Front
Ford Ford’s priority is to leverage its commercial and fleet market advantage, which it has not yet seen replicated by Chinese manufacturers. However, Ford’s struggles with production costs and the lack of a credible charging network expose a significant weakness in its strategy.
GM GM’s challenge is to overcome its execution issues with the Ultium battery platform and deliverable software and charging infrastructure solutions. Its focus on autonomous vehicles has also led to a notable misstep, highlighting the need for a coherent EV strategy.
Tesla Tesla’s priority remains defending its charging network as the de facto US standard while China builds its own global footprint. The company must continue to lead in cost per kWh and software update cycles to maintain its competitive edge.
Thought Exercise: Three Startups That Could Leap China
- ChargingHub: A startup that aims to create a decentralized, blockchain-based charging network for EVs, enabling peer-to-peer energy trading and reducing reliance on traditional grid infrastructure.
- MinerX: A company focused on developing advanced mineral extraction technologies to increase the efficiency of EV battery production, addressing the structural gap in Western supply chains.
- GridSync: A startup that seeks to create a modular, software-defined grid management platform for EV charging, enabling seamless integration with existing grid systems and facilitating widespread adoption.