This episode was recorded in June 2026, following the announcement of the strategic partnership between GM and Peak Energy.

In this episode, Cam sits down with Kurt Kelty, a 35-year veteran of the battery industry and the catalyst of some of the most consequential deals in energy: the Panasonic-Tesla Gigafactory partnership, the development of Tesla's cell supply chain, and now General Motors' landmark partnership with Peak Energy.

Cam and Kurt first explore their connections in what was once a small industry, discussing some of the most prominent founders and investors in batteries, energy, and hardware. Over past deals and big personalities, Kurt and Cam track how trust is built in a tight-knit, technical community, and Kurt shares how remaining mission-driven has kept his momentum up from work in startups through GM.

Cam and Kurt finally dive into the recently announced GM–Peak deal, the first venture of this scale into Sodium ion in the West. They trace the yearlong vetting process of vetting the deal: rigorous lab testing that put Peak's cells head-to-head against competing sodium-ion samples at 55°C, multi-day technical workshops, and a thorough technoeconomic analysis to validate the advantages of Peak's design. What emerged was a conviction on both sides that this match of frontier technology and manufacturing authority was strong and ready to scale.

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