06/06/2020
How much lithium is in a lithium-ion cell?
-The lithium content in a lithium-ion cell is actually quite small.
-Consider an LCO cell (positive electrode LiCoO2)
-Lithium content in LiCoO2 is only 7% by weight
LiCoO2 comprises 33% of cell weight, so Li content of electrode 2% of cell weight.
-Electrolyte ( 10% of cell weight) also contains some dissolved lithium
-Overall, total lithium content in high-energy cell 3% by weight.
So, what does this mean?
-So, lithium content in high-energy cell 3% by weight
xEV cells weigh about 7 kgkWh 1: Li content 0 2 kgkWh 1
-200-mile EV needs 60 kWh battery: Li content 12 kg / EV
-PHEV batteries 10% of EV-battery capacity
-HEV batteries require even less capacity
-1 million EVs would consume 12000 tons of Li (without recycling); 1 million P/HEVs would consume 1200 tons
-Known available supply of Li is over 200 billion tons, including from seawater
-Each human being presently alive could own more than 2000 EVs, without recycling!
