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 intertwined
The 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.
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⏱ YouTube Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 Intro – Special Guest Henry Sanderson
01:18 Henry Sanderson and the Story Behind Volt Rush
03:48 China’s Battery Supply Chain Dominance
07:33 Can the West Catch Up to China?
10:58 Rare Earths, Lithium and Critical Minerals
15:57 How China Controls EV Supply Chains
19:42 LFP Batteries and Cost Advantages
22:05 Sodium-Ion and Next Generation Batteries
27:20 Tesla’s Shift Toward AI and Robotics
31:14 EV Demand and Global Market Competition
36:47 Ford, GM and the Future of EVs
41:01 Geopolitics and the Energy Transition
45:23 Will the West Rebuild Its Supply Chain?
52:51 Final Thoughts on the EV Race
