China’s Battery Dominance w/ special guest Henry Sanderson | At The Wheel #16

In Episode 16 of At The Wheel, Joe White and Tu Le are joined by Henry Sanderson, author of Volt Rush and an expert on global battery supply chains and critical minerals.The discussion explores one of the most important issues shaping the future of the auto industry: who controls the batteries, minerals, and technology powering the EV transition.Henry explains how China built a dominant position across the EV supply chain — from mining and refining to battery manufacturing — and why Western governments are now scrambling to catch up.Joe, Tu, and Henry discuss:* How Chinese companies like CATL, BYD, and Ganfeng Lithium built global dominance in batteries* Why China controls key processing capacity for lithium, cobalt, and rare earth magnets* Whether the United States and Europe can realistically rebuild their own supply chains* The challenge of competing with China’s scale and cost advantages* How EV demand, energy storage, and AI-driven data centers are reshaping energy markets* Tesla’s shift toward AI, robotaxis, and robotics — and what that means for the EV industry* Why EV policy, industrial strategy, and geopolitics are now deeply intertwinedThe conversation also dives into emerging battery technologies including LFP, sodium-ion, and manganese-rich batteries, and what they could mean for the next phase of the energy transition.As governments and automakers race to secure supply chains, the future of the EV industry may depend less on cars — and more on minerals, batteries, and energy infrastructure.🔎 SEO Keywords for DiscoverabilityEV battery supply chainChina battery dominanceCATL batteriesVolt Rush bookHenry Sanderson EVlithium supply chainrare earth magnets EVLFP battery technologysodium ion batteriesenergy transition geopoliticsTesla robotaxi strategyEV industry competitionglobal EV marketbattery manufacturing USfuture of electric vehicles⏱ YouTube Chapters / Timestamps00:00 Intro – Special Guest Henry Sanderson01:18 Henry Sanderson and the Story Behind Volt Rush03:48 China’s Battery Supply Chain Dominance07:33 Can the West Catch Up to China?10:58 Rare Earths, Lithium and Critical Minerals15:57 How China Controls EV Supply Chains19:42 LFP Batteries and Cost Advantages22:05 Sodium-Ion and Next Generation Batteries27:20 Tesla’s Shift Toward AI and Robotics31:14 EV Demand and Global Market Competition36:47 Ford, GM and the Future of EVs41:01 Geopolitics and the Energy Transition45:23 Will the West Rebuild Its Supply Chain?52:51 Final Thoughts on the EV Race This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.atthewheel.co