The European Commission has opened a call for proposals worth up to €1.5 billion in interest-free loans for companies making electric vehicle battery cells in the European Economic Area. Loans can cover up to 60 per cent of eligible costs, with a maximum of €500 million per beneficiary. To qualify, projects must be sited in the European Economic Area and produce cells suitable for use in electric vehicles. Applications will be assessed against criteria set out in the call, among them the technical and financial maturity of the projects and their contribution to the European battery ecosystem. Chinese manufacturers account for more than 80 per cent of world battery output and European carmakers have turned increasingly to Chinese partners for cells and expertise.