As China Halts Battery Exports, America’s Gigafactory Becomes Indispensable

Forge Nano’s Domestic Manufacturing Takes the Lead in Securing America’s Energy Future

China’s latest move to restrict exports of advanced batteries and manufacturing equipment marks a critical turning point for global energy markets.

Starting November 8, 2025, the Chinese government will ban the export of high-energy lithium-ion batteries and key production technologies that the United States has long relied on to power everything from electric vehicles and drones to defense systems and critical infrastructure. 

This policy effectively places a chokehold on one of the world’s most important energy supply chains. By cutting off access to batteries with energy levels exceeding 300 Wh/kg – the benchmark for next-generation, high-performance applications – China has made clear its willing to weaponize its dominance in the renewable energy sector.

For the U.S., this isn’t just a supply chain issue – it’s a national security and innovation crisis. The path forward is clear: America must invest aggressively in domestic innovation and production capacity to ensure its own energy independence.

And one company has already begun to answer that call: Forge Nano.

Forging America’s Energy Independence

Colorado-based Forge Nano has quietly built one of the most advanced domestic battery technology platforms in the country. The company is already producing high-performance cylindrical lithium-ion cells at its headquarters and is now constructing a state-of-the-art gigafactory in North Carolina – a first of its kind: U.S.-owned, U.S.-operated, and U.S.-powered.

Backed by a $100 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy, the facility will deliver 3 GWh per year of advanced cell capacity, enough to power tens of thousands of critical defense and aerospace systems, while sourcing the majority of its materials domestically.

“China’s new export restrictions only reinforce what we’ve known all along: America’s energy future must be built here at home,” says Paul Lichty, CEO of Forge Nano. “Forge Nano was founded on the belief that world-class innovation and manufacturing don’t have to happen overseas. With support from the Department of Energy, we’re proving that the United States can lead in high-performance battery technology, create resilient supply chains, and deliver the energy security our nation deserves.”

This investment directly supports the nation’s current need of building a resilient, homegrown energy supply chain, ensuring that future American innovations are powered by American-made batteries, not foreign imports.

 Proven Innovation for Defense and Industry

Forge Nano’s capabilities go beyond production volume. The company recently announced a 100 % U.S.-sourced lithium-ion cell developed specifically for the Department of Defense, meeting strict performance, reliability, and temperature-resistance standards.

At the core of its technology is Atomic Armor™, Forge Nano’s proprietary nano-coating process that protects each individual battery material. This microscopic armor layer boosts performance, extends lifespan, and enhances safety allowing batteries to operate with more power and longer life than traditional cells.

Unlike many battery startups still dependent on imported materials or tooling, Forge Nano’s vertically integrated approach makes it one of the few truly American battery manufacturers positioned to scale quickly in today’s environment.

Global Headwinds, Domestic Opportunity

Over the past decade, China has built near-total control of the lithium-ion value chain –from mining and chemical refining to component production and cell assembly.

Now, with new export restrictions in place, that dominance is no longer just economic; it’s geopolitical. Every nation dependent on Chinese materials faces increased costs, longer delays, and strategic vulnerability.

The United States has a narrow but powerful window to change course and Forge Nano represents the kind of industrial backbone needed to do it.

“Forge Nano’s gigafactory is a blueprint for how America takes control of its critical minerals and advanced technology manufacturing destiny” says Ben Steinberg, Executive Vice President of Venn Strategies. “The Department of Energy’s investment demonstrates the U.S. government’s commitment to reshoring manufacturing, strengthening national security, and building an economy powered by American ingenuity.”

To fully insulate the country’s energy future, a coordinated national strategy is essential. That includes:

  • Federal & state alignment: Continued grants, incentives, and low-interest loans to accelerate U.S. production capacity.
  • Industrial partnerships: Long-term offtake commitments from defense contractors and energy providers to provide scale and certainty.
  • Upstream investment: Domestic mining, refining, and material processing to eliminate foreign dependencies.
  • Standardization: Shared testing and qualification frameworks to enable cross-compatible, rapidly deployable U.S.-made cells.
 

The Bottom Line

China’s decision to halt exports of advanced batteries has made one thing clear: energy independence is now investment-grade infrastructure.

Forge Nano’s DOE-funded gigafactory doesn’t just fill a production gap – it establishes a strategic moat around U.S. innovation, manufacturing, and defense.

For investors, this represents more than a  domestic energy play. It’s a chance to back the foundational layer of America’s next industrial revolution…one built on secure, domestic, high-performance battery technology.