Startup Verkor has announced it is planning to establish a $1.9 billion, 16 GWh battery-cell factory in France. It is now seeking funding and a suitable 200-hectare site, but plans to have the factory running by 2023. Later, the factory could be scaled up to 50 GWh in accordance with market forces. Verkor’s partners are Schneider Electric, EIT InnoEnergy, and the Groupe IDEC. Schneider deals in energy management and automation, EIT InnoEnergy uses its investment to support both startups and research, while Groupe IDEC is a turnkey developer of logistical projects. EIT InnoEnergy is also a supporter of Northvolt’s factories. Europe’s current demand is not met by its production, let alone future demand: Chinese, Japanese and South Korean imports dominate.…