GlobalData comments on lithium-ion chains and the EV market

Daniel Clarke, Thematic analyst at GlobalData, commented:

“You can’t just click your fingers and make a fully working lithium-ion battery supply chain appear – it takes time. The recent decision by Johnson Mathey to withdraw from UK battery manufacturing demonstrates just how hard building a supply chain can be. Western economies are quite far behind China already, with the country having held an 80.5% share of lithium-ion battery capacity in 2020. Even with the US and EU’s best efforts, China will still dominate by 2026, with an expected 61.4% share. Further, China is strikingly dominant in both chemical refining and the production of cathodes and anodes – all critical parts of the supply chain. In the meantime, the US and EU remain vulnerable in this important future market.”

GlobalData notes that the price of lithium carbonate is set to rise worldwide, from just over US$10 000 in 2020 to nearly US$14 000 in 2024 (forecast made in September 2020).

Clarke continues:

“The rising price of lithium demonstrates what many in the industry have warned about for some time: the growing divergence between supply and demand for lithium. Ultimately, this will lead to an increase in the price of EVs, as automakers pass the cost onto the consumer.”

GlobalData’s report, ‘Thematic Research: Electric vehicle batteries (2021)’, notes that one of the core challenges for EV adoption is keeping the cost of a lithium-ion battery as low as possible.

Clarke continued:

“Batteries are already the most expensive part of an EV. Cell costs would need to be notably below US$100/kWh for mainstream production to take off, but this isn’t looking likely. Any increases in cost will be a blow to the decarbonisation agenda of advanced economies, as well as lead to a deceleration in the decarbonisation of the automotive industry.

“To reduce future bottlenecks, governments at COP26 need to incentivise investment into new mines for raw materials needed in EV production, as well further develop sustainable lithium-ion battery supply chains. Unfortunately, mines can take up to seven years to build, and demand for EVs is increasing by the day.”

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/15112021/globaldata-comments-on-lithium-ion-chains-and-the-ev-market/