When people think about the future of American competitiveness, the mind often goes to Silicon Valley startups or policy debates in Washington. But the real deciding factor may be something far less visible and far more essential: batteries. Every electric vehicle, drone, and next-generation defense system relies on them, and they determine not just performance but also national security. The challenge is that much of the supply chain sits overseas, and experts are sounding the alarm about America’s growing dependence on foreign energy storage. William Michael Hadela, Jr., Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at American Lithium Energy, has spent the last 20 years working to change that, bringing transformational technology out of research labs and into real-world use.
Let’s Rethink Battery Sovereignty
Nobody wants to admit it: America has a battery problem. Hadela doesn’t mince words when he talks about what’s at stake. “Batteries are the new oil, and yet much of our supply chain is still tied to foreign interests,” he says. That’s not just an inconvenience when you’re trying to build everything from electric cars to military drones.
American Lithium Energy has been working on a different approach. Instead of relying on overseas suppliers, they’ve focused on proving that domestic alternatives can actually work better. “At American Lithium Energy, we’ve proven that high-performance National Defense Authorization Act compliant lithium ion chemistries such as LMFP, NMC, and SafeCore can outperform foreign alternatives while protecting national interests,” he explains. But having better technology isn’t enough if you can’t make enough of it. The real solution requires thinking bigger than just research labs and pilot programs. Hadela believes America needs to build the whole system from scratch. “It’s time to shift from dependency to sovereignty. That starts with domestic research and development and gigawatt-hour scale manufacturing right here in America,” he says. It’s the kind of massive undertaking that requires both government support and private investment.
Aligning Defense and Commercial Markets
The old way of doing business kept military and civilian technology in separate boxes. That doesn’t work anymore, according to Hadela. “Dual use technology is no longer optional. It’s a necessity,” he points out. The same battery that powers a military drone can end up in an electric vehicle or hospital equipment. This crossover approach creates stronger business cases for new technology. When you can sell the same basic technology to multiple markets, you can afford to invest more in making it better. “Our batteries power drones and spacecraft, but the same technologies are applied to EVs, grid storage, and medical devices,” he notes. The trick is figuring out how to make all these different customers happy at the same time.
Hadela has seen this work firsthand through partnerships with various government agencies and commercial companies. The key is finding where different needs overlap instead of trying to build completely separate solutions. “The playbook? Align mission needs with market demands. We’ve done this with the Space Force, Army, and major OEMs, building platforms that are agile, scalable, and profitable across sectors,” he explains. When you get it right, everyone wins.
Building Infrastructure for the Intelligent Grid
Most people think about batteries as simple storage devices. Put energy in, take energy out when you need it. But Hadela sees something more sophisticated coming. “Storage isn’t about capacity, it’s about intelligence,” he argues. Future energy systems will need to make decisions on their own. The technology to make this happen is already being developed. Hadela is betting on systems that combine artificial intelligence with advanced battery technology to create smarter grids. “That’s why I’m investing in AI-powered battery systems, edge computing, and grid edge infrastructure,” he says. These systems won’t just store energy, they’ll figure out when and where to use it most effectively.
This vision extends beyond traditional power grids into every environment where energy matters. Building truly smart energy systems means thinking about everything from submarines to satellites. “The future grid must be dynamic, resilient, and autonomous. Energy storage is the spine of that future, and we’re building it across land, sea, air, and space,” he explains. It’s ambitious, but the alternative might be falling further behind competitors. For Hadela, this isn’t just about building better technology or growing a successful business. The stakes are much higher than quarterly earnings or product launches. “Innovation in energy storage is more than a tech challenge. It’s a national security imperative. We’re not just building batteries. We’re building the future of America’s autonomy and resilience,” he concludes.
Connect with William Michael Hadela Jr. on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.
