Infographic: These are the key minerals in electric vehicle batteries

Author: Jozo Knez

May 23, 2022

Image by: foto Shutterstock

Within practically every electric vehicle (EV) is a lithium-ion battery that relies on several key minerals to power the battery. While some minerals within the batteries work to ensure the flow of energy, others protect it from accidental damage. According to data from the European Federation for Transport and Environment, this graphic shows the mineral content in the ‘average lithium-ion battery’.

Mineral mix for batteries

Cells in the average 60 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery contained approximately 185 kilograms of minerals. The cathode contains the widest variety of minerals and is likely the most important and expensive component of the battery, with the composition of the cathode being the main determinant of battery performance, with each mineral offering a unique advantage.

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For example, NMC batteries, which accounted for 72 percent of batteries used in electric vehicles in 2020 (excluding China), have a cathode made up of nickel, manganese, and cobalt along with lithium. A higher nickel content in these batteries tends to increase their energy density or the amount of stored energy per unit volume, which increases the driving range of electric vehicles. Cobalt and manganese often act as stabilizers in NMC batteries, enhancing their safety.

Overall, materials in the cathode make up 31.3 percent of the mineral weight in the average battery produced in 2020.

Nickel-based batteries have become the norm

Meanwhile, graphite has been the primary material for anodes due to its relatively low cost, abundance, and long lifespan. Since the entire anode consists of graphite, it is the largest mineral component of the battery. Other materials include steel in the casing that protects the cell from external damage, along with copper, which is used as a current collector for the anode.

There are several types of lithium-ion batteries with different compositions of cathode minerals. Their names usually allude to their mineral breakdown. For example, a battery named NMC811 contains 80 percent nickel, 10 percent manganese, and 10 percent cobalt, while, for instance, the NMC523 battery contains 50 percent nickel, 20 percent manganese, and 30 percent cobalt.

Here’s how the mineral content differs for various chemical types of batteries with a capacity of 60 kWh.

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Since range is crucial for all electric vehicle drivers, as well as a battery that does not need frequent charging, nickel-rich cathodes have become the norm. More specifically, nickel-based batteries account for 80 percent of the capacity of batteries in new plug-in electric vehicles produced in 2021.

Range and capacity of batteries

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries do not use nickel and typically offer lower energy density with better value. Unlike nickel-based batteries that use lithium hydroxide compounds in the cathode, LFP batteries use lithium carbonate, which is a cheaper alternative.

As the electric vehicle market is still in its infancy, and the chemical composition of these vehicles is constantly changing and evolving, it will be interesting to see how advancements will reflect on the range and capacity of batteries, which should become much better and longer-lasting in the near future, as without that, the future of electric vehicles remains uncertain.

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