Biden Invokes Defense Production Act to Secure EV Battery Supply Chain

Morgan Lewis – US President Joseph Biden issued a directive to the secretary of defense on March 31, invoking the Defense Production Act to spur the domestic production of critical minerals needed to produce large-capacity batteries for the automotive, emobility, and stationary electricity storage sectors. The president’s executive action is in direct response to the Biden-Harris administration’s longstanding concern that the existing supply chain and domestic capabilities to produce large-capacity batteries are insufficient to meet current and projected production and consumer domestic demand for the growing electric vehicle market.