Chemistry & Cell Components

Chemistry & Cell Components

Cathode | Lithium Tradeoffs

Cathode | Lithium Tradeoffs

Chemistry Lithium Wh & Ah Cost Map: Drive Towards Cheaper Batteries Current market conditions are demanding cheaper batteries for EV’s at the same performance of modern day NMC811 batteries.

CAM is major driver of cell cost accounting for >~50% of the cost Lithium Hydroxide (LiOH) or Lithium Carbonate (Li2CO3) account for > 50% of the CAM cost excluding processing/overhead To enable cheaper EV’s, LFP is the near term solution to get the lowest lithium cost per kWh Beyond LFP, Manufacturers will need to turn to advanced chemistries, such as lithium-sulfur (LiS), to sustain downward trends on cost enhancing performance

Cell Cost Breakdown

NMC811 Cost Breakdown NiSO4 26%

Separator 7% Manufacturing Overhead 24%

LiOH 66%

CoSO4 5% MnSO4 2% NaSO4 1% NH4OH <1%

LFP Cost Breakdown Anode 12%

Cathode 51% Fe(NO3)3 22%

Electrolyte 4% Casing 3%

Source: Battery Talk: Lithium in Batteries Part 1, Battery Talk: Lithium in Batteries Part 2,,Battery Talk: Lithium in Batteries Part 3

Li2CO3 68% NH4H2PO4 10%

Extracted from the PDF; charts and images may read imperfectly.