Current Cell Chronicles - December 2023

AI-Powered Battery Insights

Discover the latest buzz in the world of batteries with this AI-edited monthly newsletter. From recent research findings to industry news, we've got you covered. Get a snapshot of what's been happening in the battery world over the past month, all presented and edited by Anxer's AI Battery Assistant.

In December 2023, the battery industry saw significant advancements and challenges. Notable developments included improved sodium-ion batteries, progress in lithium and solid-state technologies, and innovations in battery pack designs. Charging infrastructure expanded globally, with substantial investments in the US and a vast number of charging piles in China. The critical need for raw materials and concerns about battery recycling emerged. Global EV sales were projected to rise substantially, particularly in China, which dominated battery production. Government funding initiatives aimed to boost battery research globally.

- In December 2023, a research team at Chalmers conducted a life cycle assessment of sodium-ion batteries, examining their environmental and resource impact.

In December 2023, there was progress in advanced battery technologies such as lithium metal, lithium-sulfur, and solid-state batteries. The performance of magnesium-ion technologies also showed strong results in recent studies at the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR). Furthermore, a shift in lithium-ion battery manufacturing could improve electric vehicles' ability to store more energy per charge and withstand more charging cycles. This was achieved by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Albemarle Corporation through an innovative, cost-effective approach for synthesizing single-crystal, high-energy, nickel-rich cathodes.

Significant advancements were made in new battery pack designs. ZEEKR announced the application of newly-developed materials and a simplified structural design led to a volume utilization of 83.7%, higher than many global peers. The new design did not compromise safety, passing six strict safety tests. The pack is based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and utilizes Svolt Energy's L600 series cells. Additionally, the 150-kWh semi-solid-state battery pack unveiled by Nio uses a CTP (cell to pack) structure that integrates the battery cells directly into the pack, eliminating the need for traditional modules, resulting in higher energy density.

AM Batteries announced significant advancements in battery manufacturing. Their technology has improved capital efficiency, performance, and system integration in battery production. This has helped to lower production costs, making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible. Additionally, their manufacturing process has addressed environmental concerns by reducing high energy consumption and the use of harmful substances.

- The US charging network is set to expand significantly, with 7.5 billions of dollars invested into facilities to reach 500 thousands chargers installed.

- In China over 8.26 million charging piles available by the end of November.

- BMW and Mercedes-Benz also announced a joint venture to build a network of at least 1,000 high-power charging stations in China by 2026.

- There was a surge in the number of AC and DC chargers installed globally, from 3 million in 2019 to over 15 million in 2023, with a forecast of 70 million by 2030.

- The European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act predicted an exponential increase in the demand for critical raw battery materials as EU countries transition to renewable energy systems and electric vehicles. This transition will require more local production of batteries and other new fossil-free technologies, and a steady supply of raw materials is needed to meet demand.

- The UK Government’s Battery Strategy and Critical Minerals Strategy are aligned to maximize the UK's access to critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite, which are required for the production of batteries.

- It was revealed that only about 10% of batteries that could be recycled are currently being recycled, with many being stored in homes and cars.

- Technological advancements have made it possible to recover almost all of the cobalt and nickel and about 80% of the lithium from spent batteries at a similar cost to mining and extracting them from ore.

- Battery recycling is in a discovery phase in Europe, with most recycling plants being only pilot projects. The Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research study suggests that the volume of lithium-ion batteries to be recycled across Europe will increase significantly by 2030.

- According to a report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, sales are forecasted to increase to 56 million by 2040, which is over 9 times higher than in 2021. This would represent about 58% of global passenger car sales. In 2022, China sold approximately 6.9 million EVs, compared to 3.3 million in 2021, and is expected to account for around 40% of global EV sales by 2030. Despite slowing consumer demand, S&P Global Mobility's 2024 global sales forecast projects battery electric passenger vehicles to post 13.3 million units worldwide for 2024, accounting for an estimated 16.2% of global passenger vehicle sales.

- Chinese companies continue to dominate the global battery power market with 295 gigafactories in the works by late November 2023. They account for nearly two-thirds of battery installations worldwide in the first nine months of the year. Six of the world's top 10 battery makers are from China and are now focusing on "globalization" after charging up the domestic market, aiming to get a bigger slice of the international market despite geopolitical challenges and uncertainties.

- Half of the EV companies that were formed are already either bankrupt or never really got off the ground. Most of the battery companies are struggling, indicating a challenging environment for the EV industry. The year 2023 has seen a particular bout of turmoil in the EV and battery industry.

- The European Commission approved a pan-European project by seven member states to provide €3.2 billion in funding to support research and innovation in battery science.

- South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced a combined ?7 trillion funding package for the battery industry, including ?50 billion in research grants for manufacturers of lithium, phosphate and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

- Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry established a Green Innovation Fund, which includes a budget of up to ￥151 billion for a project investigating high-performance battery materials and battery recycling technologies.

- The NEXGENNA project in the UK received ￡15.9 million in funding to develop the next generation of sodium–ion batteries.

- The FutureCat project in the UK received ￡14.4 million in funding to develop high nickel content, high-performance cathode materials for lithium–ion batteries.

- The SOLBAT project in the UK was awarded ￡21.8 million in funding to demonstrate the feasibility of a solid-state battery with superior performance to lithium–ion in EV applications.

- Volkswagen completed the first phase of its North American Gigafactory, furthering its commitment to electric vehicle production.

- Chinese lithium battery maker EVE Energy established a joint venture in the U.S. to produce batteries for the North American commercial vehicle segment.

- Group14 Technologies is accelerating manufacturing at a global scale to meet high demand for advanced silicon battery materials in Asia.

- Ford, Volkswagen and Stellantis have disclosed plans for battery mineral supply that rival Tesla and BYD.

- JAC Motors, a Chinese automaker, developed a new EV with a sodium-ion battery, which they claim has lower costs and uses more abundant raw materials. Despite having a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries offer better low-temperature performance, faster charging speeds, longer lifespans, and increased durability. They also use cheaper raw materials, which could lead to lower EV prices.

- LG Chem has started the construction of a cathode plant in the U.S. This facility will produce cathode materials for North American electric vehicles (EVs) and collaborate with key partners from development to supply chain.

In your opinion, what are the most important news?

AI Battery Assistant's answer:

The most significant news in the world of batteries in December 2023 was the global shift of batteries into the car market, with China leading the transition. This shift is expected to make batteries the largest global clean tech market, surpassing wind turbines and solar panels. Additionally, the world's two biggest electric carmakers, Tesla and China's BYD, have secured access to key raw materials for batteries. However, there is a global race to find enough lithium, cobalt, and nickel to meet the targets for 2030. The global demand for lithium-ion batteries was projected to increase sevenfold by 2030, with China leading in production capacity. However, North America and Europe were also ramping up production. The importance of battery recycling was emphasized to prevent pollution and resource depletion. In the U.S., over $43.4 billion was spent on battery manufacturing and recycling due to the Inflation Reduction Act, helping to level the playing field with Europe. The U.S. and Europe each had 38 large battery factories, or gigafactories, in progress.

Disclaimer:

All the news presented in this report are provided without any alterations, edits, or fact-checking, directly generated by the AI, with the intention of informing the public about the capabilities and limitations of these tools.

This report is not affiliated with or sponsored by any company or organization mentioned within.

For any inquiries or related matters, please feel free to contact:

[email protected]

Would you like to use the AI assistant to make your own report? Sign up by following this link.

https://anxer.tech/signup