{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Nov. 7, 2025 | The week’s top stories and NextStar CEO Danies Lee on a sudden change of battery plans","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/nov-7-2025-the-week-s-top-stories-and-nextstar-ceo-danies-lee-on-a-sudden-change-of-battery-plans","audioUrl":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/www.buzzsprout.com/2467728/episodes/18145774-nov-7-2025-the-week-s-top-stories-and-nextstar-ceo-danies-lee-on-a-sudden-change-of-battery-plans.mp3","description":"Federal budget breakdown; OpenRoad buys into NewRoads; October sales. Plus, NextStar CEO Danies Lee talks about why the Stellantis-LG Energy Solution joint venture is now making energy storage systems instead of EV batteries in Windsor, Ont."},"annotations":[{"startTime":56.1,"endTime":59.5,"type":"concept","title":"EV battery plant","url":"/glossary/ev-battery-plant","quote":"at the joint venture EV battery plant","canonicalId":"concept:ev-battery-plant","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"An industrial facility that manufactures batteries for electric vehicles, often involving large-scale production and specialized technology.","simplifiedExplanation":"A factory that makes the batteries used in electric cars, which power them instead of gasoline."}},{"startTime":58.4,"endTime":60.0,"type":"company","title":"LG Energy Solution","url":"/glossary/lg-energy-solution","quote":"co-owned by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution","canonicalId":"company:lg-energy-solution","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A South Korean company specializing in battery technology, producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage.","simplifiedExplanation":"A company that makes the batteries used in electric cars and for storing energy."}},{"startTime":58.4,"endTime":60.0,"type":"concept","title":"joint venture","url":"/glossary/joint-venture","quote":"co-owned by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution","canonicalId":"concept:joint-venture","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A business arrangement where two or more parties share ownership, risks, and profits of a new entity.","simplifiedExplanation":"When two companies team up to run a business together, sharing costs and profits."}},{"startTime":58.4,"endTime":59.0,"type":"brand","title":"Stellantis","url":"/glossary/stellantis","quote":"co-owned by Stellantis and LG Energy Solution","canonicalId":"brand:stellantis","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"An automotive conglomerate formed by the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group, owning brands like Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, Citroën, and more.","simplifiedExplanation":"A big company that owns many car brands like Jeep and Peugeot."}},{"startTime":101.9,"endTime":106.1,"type":"term","title":"luxury tax","url":"/glossary/luxury-tax","quote":"Ottawa will roll back Canada's luxury tax on planes and boats, but maintain the levy on vehicles worth more than $100,000.","canonicalId":"term:luxury-tax","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A government-imposed tax on high‑value items, in this case applied to vehicles over a certain price threshold.","simplifiedExplanation":"A special tax that people pay when they buy very expensive cars or boats. It’s meant to make the government raise money from those who can afford it."}},{"startTime":112.1,"endTime":115.8,"type":"company","title":"New Roads Automotive Group","url":"/glossary/new-roads-automotive-group","quote":"Open Road Auto of British Columbia has acquired a majority stake in Ontario's New Roads Automotive Group.","canonicalId":"company:new-roads-automotive-group","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A Canadian automotive dealership network based in Ontario, operating multiple franchise locations.","simplifiedExplanation":"Another company that sells cars in Canada. It owns several dealerships and now is partly owned by Open Road Auto."}},{"startTime":112.1,"endTime":115.8,"type":"company","title":"Open Road Auto of British Columbia","url":"/glossary/open-road-auto-of-british-columbia","quote":"Open Road Auto of British Columbia has acquired a majority stake in Ontario's New Roads Automotive Group.","canonicalId":"company:open-road-auto-of-british-columbia","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A dealership group based in British Columbia that sells new and used cars through multiple franchise locations.","simplifiedExplanation":"A company that owns several car dealerships in Canada. They sell cars to people who want a new or used vehicle."}},{"startTime":121.0,"endTime":123.8,"type":"concept","title":"auto retail market","url":"/glossary/auto-retail-market","quote":"The merger will triple Open Road's footprint in Canada's largest auto retail market and expand its portfolio to 37 franchise locations.","canonicalId":"concept:auto-retail-market","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The segment of the automotive industry that involves selling cars directly to consumers through dealerships.","simplifiedExplanation":"The part of the car business where people buy cars from stores or dealers, not from factories."}},{"startTime":184.6,"endTime":187.5,"type":"term","title":"electric vehicles","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"as many Quebecers rushed to get electric vehicles before the province reduced EV incentives there.","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Electric vehicles (EVs) are cars powered by electric motors using energy stored in batteries, eliminating the need for gasoline.","simplifiedExplanation":"Electric cars run on electricity from batteries instead of gas, so they don’t need a gas tank or an engine that burns fuel."}},{"startTime":187.5,"endTime":190.6,"type":"term","title":"EV incentives","url":"/glossary/ev-incentives","quote":"before the province reduced EV incentives there.","canonicalId":"term:ev-incentives","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"EV incentives are government subsidies, tax credits, or rebates designed to encourage people to buy electric vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Governments sometimes give money back or lower taxes to people who buy electric cars, hoping more people will choose them."}},{"startTime":196.2,"endTime":201.0,"type":"concept","title":"auto sector","url":"/glossary/auto-sector","quote":"Derosier managing partner, Andrew King, says the auto sector continues to waver as the trade situation shows no sign of being resolved.","canonicalId":"concept:auto-sector","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The auto sector refers to the entire automotive industry, including manufacturing, sales, and related services.","simplifiedExplanation":"The auto sector is the big group of companies that make, sell, and service cars."}},{"startTime":205.0,"endTime":207.1,"type":"company","title":"Auto Forecast Solutions","url":"/glossary/auto-forecast-solutions","quote":"Still, in its latest monthly report, U.S.-based Auto Forecast Solutions","canonicalId":"company:auto-forecast-solutions","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Auto Forecast Solutions is a U.S.-based firm that provides market research and forecasting for the automotive industry.","simplifiedExplanation":"Auto Forecast Solutions is a company that studies car sales and trends to help others understand the market."}},{"startTime":479.9,"endTime":483.7,"type":"part","title":"batteries","url":"/glossary/batteries","quote":"Where will these batteries head? Which vehicles will this plant supply when it comes to electric vehicle batteries?","canonicalId":"part:batteries","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Batteries are the energy storage units that power electric vehicles, converting stored chemical energy into electrical energy to drive the motors.","simplifiedExplanation":"Batteries are like big rechargeable batteries that keep electric cars running. They store electricity and give it to the car’s motor when you drive."}},{"startTime":493.0,"endTime":496.9,"type":"part","title":"battery cell production","url":"/glossary/battery-cell-production","quote":"we are going to start with a battery cell production for what is called energy storage system application.","canonicalId":"part:battery-cell-production","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Battery cell production refers to the manufacturing of individual cells that make up a battery pack, which are then assembled into larger packs for use in electric vehicles.","simplifiedExplanation":"Making a battery cell means creating the tiny units that store electricity; many of these cells are put together to power an electric car."}},{"startTime":496.9,"endTime":502.5,"type":"concept","title":"energy storage system application","url":"/glossary/energy-storage-system-application","quote":"we are going to start with a battery cell production for what is called energy storage system application.","canonicalId":"concept:energy-storage-system-application","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"An energy storage system (ESS) application involves using batteries or other storage technologies to store electrical energy for later use, often in electric vehicles or grid services.","simplifiedExplanation":"An ESS is like a big rechargeable battery that can save power when it’s cheap or plentiful and then give it back when needed, such as in cars or for the power grid."}},{"startTime":502.5,"endTime":507.1,"type":"term","title":"EV","url":"/glossary/ev","quote":"So initially we planned to start with a battery for the EV, but everyone knows that currently the market for the EV is going through what is called a cat's limb.","canonicalId":"term:ev","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"EV stands for Electric Vehicle, a car powered primarily by electric motors and rechargeable batteries instead of internal combustion engines.","simplifiedExplanation":"An EV is a car that runs on electricity stored in batteries, so it doesn’t use gasoline or diesel."}},{"startTime":738.3,"endTime":743.8,"type":"term","title":"battery types","url":"/glossary/battery-types","quote":"[738.3s] to build a variety of battery types?","canonicalId":"term:battery-types","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Battery types refer to the different chemistries and designs used in electric or hybrid vehicle power packs, such as lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, or solid-state batteries.","simplifiedExplanation":"Cars that use electricity need batteries; there are different kinds of batteries, each with its own strengths and weaknesses."}},{"startTime":743.8,"endTime":748.9,"type":"term","title":"hybrid vehicles","url":"/glossary/hybrid-vehicles","quote":"[743.8s] for hybrid vehicles in Windsor?","canonicalId":"term:hybrid-vehicles","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Hybrid vehicles combine an internal combustion engine with one or more electric motors and a battery pack to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.","simplifiedExplanation":"A hybrid car uses both a gasoline engine and an electric motor to move, which helps it use less gas and produce fewer pollutants."}},{"startTime":774.2,"endTime":779.4,"type":"term","title":"plug-in hybrid","url":"/glossary/plug-in-hybrid","quote":"There are different types of EV, like a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, as well as battery electric vehicle.","canonicalId":"term:plug-in-hybrid","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A plug-in hybrid can be charged from an external source and has a larger battery, allowing it to drive longer distances on electric power alone.","simplifiedExplanation":"A plug-in hybrid is a car that can be plugged in to charge its battery and drive on electricity for short trips."}},{"startTime":779.4,"endTime":782.0,"type":"term","title":"battery electric vehicle","url":"/glossary/bev","quote":"There are different types of EV, like a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, as well as battery electric vehicle.","canonicalId":"term:bev","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"A battery electric vehicle (BEV) runs solely on electricity stored in batteries, with no gasoline engine.","simplifiedExplanation":"A battery electric vehicle is a car that only uses batteries for power, no gas tank."}},{"startTime":815.5,"endTime":823.2,"type":"part","title":"nickel manganese cobalt cells","url":"/glossary/nickel-manganese-cobalt-cells","quote":"I know the plant had planned on building nickel manganese cobalt cells for electric vehicles. And now I believe this is the LFP version for energy storage systems, is that correct?","canonicalId":"part:nickel-manganese-cobalt-cells","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"These are lithium-ion battery cells that use a combination of nickel, manganese, and cobalt oxides as the cathode material, offering high energy density but higher cost and resource concerns.","simplifiedExplanation":"This type of battery uses three metals—nickel, manganese, and cobalt—to store electricity. It’s common in many electric cars because it can hold a lot of charge, but it’s more expensive and relies on mined metals."}},{"startTime":820.6,"endTime":823.2,"type":"term","title":"LFP version","url":"/glossary/lfp-version","quote":"And now I believe this is the LFP version for energy storage systems, is that correct?","canonicalId":"term:lfp-version","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"LFP stands for lithium iron phosphate, a battery chemistry that uses iron and phosphate instead of nickel or cobalt, offering lower cost, better safety, and longer cycle life.","simplifiedExplanation":"LFP batteries use iron instead of nickel or cobalt, so they’re cheaper and safer. They don’t last as long on a single charge as some other types, but they’re popular for stationary storage and some cars."}},{"startTime":823.2,"endTime":831.6,"type":"concept","title":"energy storage systems","url":"/glossary/energy-storage-systems","quote":"And now I believe this is the LFP version for energy storage systems, is that correct?","canonicalId":"concept:energy-storage-systems","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Energy storage systems (ESS) are setups that store electrical energy for later use, such as batteries in electric vehicles or stationary storage for grid balancing.","simplifiedExplanation":"An energy storage system is basically a big battery that can hold electricity and release it when needed, like in electric cars or to help power the grid during peak times."}},{"startTime":833.5,"endTime":836.8,"type":"term","title":"EV market","url":"/glossary/ev-markets","quote":"to sort of change with the EV market if in the future electric vehicles","canonicalId":"term:ev-markets","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"The EV market refers to the industry and consumer segment focused on electric vehicles, including sales, manufacturing, infrastructure, and regulatory trends.","simplifiedExplanation":"The EV market is the part of the car business that deals with cars powered by electricity instead of gasoline."}},{"startTime":847.9,"endTime":855.0,"type":"term","title":"LFP battery","url":"/glossary/lfp-battery","quote":"Obviously, there's pros and cons of the LFP battery for the purpose of EV.","canonicalId":"term:lfp-battery","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.9,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"LFP stands for lithium iron phosphate, a type of battery chemistry used in electric vehicles that offers lower cost and improved safety compared to lithium‑ion batteries, but with slightly less energy density.","simplifiedExplanation":"An LFP battery is a kind of rechargeable battery that uses iron and phosphate. It’s cheaper and safer than some other batteries, but it can’t store as much energy in the same space."}},{"startTime":864.7,"endTime":866.8,"type":"term","title":"kilowatt per kilogram","url":"/glossary/kilowatt-per-kilogram","quote":"a kilowatt per kilogram, the weight of this LFP is almost twice","canonicalId":"term:kilowatt-per-kilogram","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"Kilowatt per kilogram (kW/kg) is a measure of power density, indicating how much electrical power can be delivered per unit weight of a battery or vehicle.","simplifiedExplanation":"It tells you how powerful a battery is for its weight—higher numbers mean more power without adding much weight."}},{"startTime":870.9,"endTime":876.2,"type":"term","title":"NCM","url":"/glossary/ncm","quote":"[870.9s] as heavy as NCM technology.\n[876.2s] So for the EV purpose,","canonicalId":"term:ncm","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.95,"source":"openai/gpt-oss-20b","data":{"explanation":"NCM stands for Nickel Cobalt Manganese, a type of lithium-ion battery chemistry used in electric vehicles. It offers high energy density and good thermal stability, but can be more expensive than other chemistries.","simplifiedExplanation":"NCM is a kind of battery that uses nickel, cobalt, and manganese. It can store a lot of power and stays safe at high temperatures, but it costs more than some other batteries."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Automotive News Canada","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/nov-7-2025-the-week-s-top-stories-and-nextstar-ceo-danies-lee-on-a-sudden-change-of-battery-plans/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}