People have been using cobalt to ensure the stability of lithium-ion batteries. However, there are some problems associated with the use of cobalt. These problems are related to cost or availability, and in most cases are related to these two factors.
Stephen Edelstein wrote in the 'Driver': 'Currently cobalt is an important component of lithium-ion batteries. However, under the influence of high costs, low supply, and mining-related ethical issues, battery production companies have to Look for alternatives. ' According to the report of the Green Car Company, Panasonic is reducing the cobalt content in lithium-ion batteries through engineering measures.
Reuters commented: "With the recent increase in the price of lithium-ion batteries, and the popularity of electric vehicles is expected to eventually lead to a shortage of cobalt, so the top battery manufacturers are competing to reduce the cobalt content of lithium-ion batteries . '
Green Everett's Eric Everett focused his attention on Panasonic. He said: 'Panasonic expects a cobalt shortage. According to Streetwise's data, the price of cobalt has risen in the past two years. Twice.
How to solve the problem of battery source materials? Reuters revealed: 'Panxia company said on Wednesday that, in the context of soaring prices of key materials for batteries, the company's goal is to develop car batteries without the use of cobalt.'
Edelstein wrote: 'Panasonic, as Tesla's only battery supplier, is also looking for alternatives to cobalt. The company also consults with Toyota on a possible battery solution.'
Everett noted that Panasonic has set a final goal, which is not to use cobalt in batteries. Reuters quoted Kenji Tammura, who is responsible for Matsushita's automotive battery business, as saying: They have significantly reduced the use of cobalt.
Panasonic may be doing some positive things, but they are not the only company that opposes cobalt dependence. Everett said: 'Scientists from the United States and Japan and venture capitalists are working on the development of solid-state lithium batteries, which will mainly benefit cars. Fields and trucks. Solid-state lithium batteries may not need cobalt at all, but so far, the production process and cost control of solid-state lithium batteries are far from mature.
Andy Horn of Reuters said: 'NCM battery manufacturers have begun to reduce the use of cobalt, although this work is still in progress, but progress has been made.'
The benchmark mineral company’s intelligence department examined the work in this field and reported that: “The manufacturer of cathode materials and batteries has been working to reduce the dependence on cobalt since its establishment, because this is the most expensive part of raw material input. In the past In the 25 years, people used NCM to develop some formulas, and the cobalt consumption of each formula was decreasing.
Horne raises the question: 'Considering that cobalt is one of the most important factors that affect the stability and performance of batteries, is it necessary to reduce the use of cobalt and ensure that the battery performance problem can be solved?'
The detailed information provided by MINING.com shows that: Most car manufacturers prefer lithium-ion batteries using nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathodes. The cathode material contains about one-third of cobalt, and its chemical composition is 111, that is, cobalt 1 Parts, 1 part cobalt, 1 part manganese.
Reuters’s Horn reported that: Benchmark Minerals stated that reducing the amount of cobalt is one thing. Using cobalt completely is another matter. Not using cobalt is a very difficult matter.
Benchmark Minerals wrote in an May article: 'The end of cobalt? The answer is simple, impossible.' This article says that cobalt will continue to be widely used in lithium-ion batteries.
Benchmark Minerals estimates that between now and 2026, the amount of cobalt consumed in lithium-ion batteries will triple, because the demand for lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles during this period will promote the development of the entire industry. Although we are working hard to reduce the Dependent, but the growth rate of sales will far exceed this decreasing trend.
At the same time, Streetwise said in a report in May that Idaho is advancing the pre-construction of a cobalt mine project in the state, as the demand for cobalt has continued unabated.
