Posts by Rob Thomas
Sodium-Ion Is No Longer a Science Project: Where It Can Win—and Who Will Build It
For years, sodium-ion batteries were discussed as an interesting alternative to lithium-ion. Lower cost. Abundant materials. Improved safety potential. But always framed as early-stage. That framing is changing. The International Energy Agency recently noted that sodium-ion is moving from research into early commercialization, supported by investments from large manufacturers and growing interest in stationary storage…
Read MoreSolid-State Batteries: The Breakthrough Is No Longer Enough
Few technologies in the battery industry have generated more excitement than solid-state batteries. Higher energy density. Improved safety. Faster charging. For years, the conversation centered on whether they could work. Now the question is different. Can they scale? The IEA Global EV Outlook 2026 makes this clear: while investment remains high, consistent performance at commercial…
Read MoreThe Next Battery Breakthrough May Be on the Factory Floor
The battery industry spends a great deal of time discussing chemistry. New cathodes. New anodes. New electrolytes. Those advancements matter. But as battery production scales globally, a different reality is emerging. Execution is becoming the constraint. According to the International Energy Agency’s Global Energy Review, battery storage deployments continue to grow at more than 40%…
Read MoreThe Best Battery for a Car May Be the Wrong Battery for the Grid
Before you say to yourself “duh!” – remember that for years, the battery conversation (And the research funding) had been dominated by electric vehicles. That made sense. EV demand drove investment, innovation and manufacturing scale. But the market is evolving. Energy storage is now expanding rapidly across: According to the International Energy Agency, global battery…
Read MoreThe Battery Talent Gap No One Is Talking About—And Why It Will Decide Who Wins
Over the past several years, the battery industry has focused on the same set of challenges. Chemistry breakthroughs. Manufacturing scale. Supply chain security. System performance. All of those matter. But there is another constraint emerging—one that is less visible, but just as critical. Talent. According to the International Energy Agency and McKinsey’s battery industry analysis,…
Read MoreThe Battery Supply Chain Divide: Why the Future Is Not Chemistry or Domestic Sourcing—It’s Both
Much of the battery conversation today is framed around technology. New chemistries. Higher energy density. Faster charging. Those advancements matter. But increasingly, the real strategic decisions are being made elsewhere. In the supply chain. According to the International Energy Agency, battery demand is expected to grow multiple times over the next decade—placing unprecedented pressure on…
Read MoreFrom Horsepower to High Tech: The EV, Robotics and AI Jobs Reshaping Automotive
Across advanced manufacturing, robotics, automation, clean technology, and mobility, the line between traditional industry and technology is disappearing. Companies that once competed primarily through mechanical engineering and operational excellence now also depend on software, artificial intelligence, connected systems, sophisticated controls, and advanced energy technologies. Few industries demonstrate this convergence more clearly than automotive. Electric vehicles…
Read MorePreparing for the Robotics Job Market: What Future Employers Will Actually Value
Over the last several months, I’ve had the opportunity to recruit across robotics software, motion planning, controls, computer vision, AI/ML, applications engineering, deployment engineering, and robotics leadership roles. In that time, I’ve spoken with founders building next-generation robotics companies, engineering leaders scaling teams, and candidates trying to position themselves for opportunities in one of the…
Read MoreThe Robotics Talent Market Is Growing Up
Over the last several months, I’ve had the opportunity to recruit across robotics software, motion planning, controls, computer vision, AI/ML, applications engineering, deployment engineering, and robotics leadership roles. In that time, I’ve spoken with founders building next-generation robotics companies, engineering leaders scaling teams, and candidates evaluating opportunities across the industry. One thing has become increasingly…
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