Idtechex discusses the many trends to track for li-ion batteries in electric vehicles
Overall, worldwide electric car sales were stronger than expected in 2020. Additionally, investment continued to pour into electric vehicles and Li-ion batteries with 2020 seeing an additional 200 GWh of planned capacity announcements in Europe – this figure continues to grow on a regular basis in 2021.
The past year has also seen Tesla, Volkswagen, General Motors, SK Innovation, and LG Chem all come forward with investor days and presentations outlining their vehicle electrification and battery technology strategies, all of which adds to the growing momentum behind the electric vehicle market.
With this, comes an added importance of understanding the Li-ion batteries that power them, the variety of design choices available, and trends in their implementation.
Cathode chemistry
An area of particular interest has been the cathode and the chemistry choices being made by battery companies and automotive OEMs. Unsurprisingly, IDTechEx data shows there has been a shift towards higher nickel content NMC batteries over the past few years.
SVolt have reportedly begun series production of their NMX cells, Renault announced their strategy would rely on NMC cathodes, and SK Innovation announced intentions for commercial production of NMC cells using 90% Ni during 2021. SK Innovation also stated their plan to have developed a 94% Ni NMC by 2025, highlighting a continued place for NMC but also highlighting the difficulty in moving toward ever higher nickel, and ever lower cobalt content NMCs.
However, there was also a resurgence for LFP in 2020 and certainly, the chemistry has gained added importance.
Automotive OEMs have come forward with plans to use the chemistry due to its lower cost and added safety, while the imminent expiry of IP relating to LFP will make it easier to manufacturer and export LFP outside of China.
Nevertheless, IDTechEx consider layered oxide materials, such as NMC and NCA, to remain central to the success of vehicle electrification given the added range they provide. Beyond cars, a range of chemistries is utilized and offered by manufacturers with choices coming down to application requirements and regional preferences.
IDTechEx Discusses the Many Trends to Track for Li-ion Batteries in Electric Vehicles, BOSTON, August 23, 2021
