From Mine to Market: Energy Metals & Electric Vehicle Industrialization

Evan Leon

Research Assistant

University of Michigan Energy Institute

TE

3

Conference

October 26, 2018

The views contained in this presentation represent Evan Leon’s assessment and do not in any way reflect those of the University of Michigan. Evan Leon would like to

acknowledge the invaluable mentorship and guidance of Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Senior Economist and Associate Director at the University of Michigan Energy Institute.

2

Executive Summary

• Energy metals enable the industrialization of electric vehicles (EVs)

• Current EV battery pack landscape varies greatly in energy density, cell chemistry, and energy metal usage

• Energy metals are important, but innovation is needed across all cell components to improve EV performance

• EV battery recycling processes must be flexible and produce desirable outputs to be competitive in evolving materials markets

3

Electric Vehicle

Cell Supplier

Cell Type Cathode Pack Size (kWh)

EPA Range1

Co (kg)3 Li (kg)3,5

Tesla Model 3

Panasonic Cylindrical NCA 80 310miles

4.54 - 9.8 11.66

GM Bolt EV

LG Chem Pouch NCM 60 238 miles

11.2 - 23.2 10.4 - 11.5

Nissan Leaf

AESC Pouch NCM2 40 107 miles

7.5 - 15.4 6.9 - 7.7

BMW i3 Samsung Prismatic NCM 33 114 miles

6.2 - 12.7 5.7 - 6.3

2017 EV Model Comparison and Energy Metal Requirements

1. www.fueleconomy.gov2. Interpreted as “High Capacity” https://pushevs.com/2018/01/29/2018-nissan-leaf-battery-real-specs/3. Calculated based on NCM 622, 111 and NCA (N0.8C0.15A0.05) molar ratios - BatPac Model 3.0, Argonne National

Laboratory. Assumes average voltage: 3.75V. 4. Rawles, Caspar. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Cobalt Institute Conference: Las Vegas, Nevada. 24 May 2018.5. Includes lithium in electrolyte and cathode active material 6. Upper end estimate based on NCA molar ratio N0.8C0.15A0.05

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Estimation of Cobalt (kg) in Battery Electric Vehicle

60-kWh Pack * 0.187 – 0.386 kg of Cobalt / kWhNCM622, NCM 111

=

11.22 – 23.16 kg of Cobalt per vehicle

500,000 60-kWh packs * 11.22 – 23.16 kg =5,610 – 11,580 metric tons (~5 – 10% of Cobalt Market)

Source: https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1107864_electric-car-battery-

warranties-compared

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Performance Trade-Offs within NCM Cathode Family

Source: Fetchenko, Michael. BASF – ANL Collaboration on NCM Cathode Materials. 4 November 2014.

• More Nickel = Higher capacity

• More Cobalt = Better stability

• More Manganese = Higher operating voltage

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Source: FMC Corporation. BMO Global Metals and Mining Conference. 27 February 2018.

Lithium Chemical Use by Cathode Type

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What is in a battery cell?

33%

21%13%

12%

11%

5% 2% 2%

Battery Cell Components by Weight1

Cathode Active Material Anode Active Material Electrolyte

Anode Current Collector Oxygen, Binder, etc Cathode Current Collector

Polymer/aluminum cell containers Separator

ü Lithiumü Cobaltü Nickelü Manganese

1. Calculated based on cell specifications from Argonne National Laboratory’s BatPac Model 3.0 (Oct 2017 Release).

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Where will the next innovation be?

Source: Maryam Yazdanpour et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 2014;161:A1953-A1963

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Key Questions for EV Battery Recycling

• When will EV battery packs reach end-of-life?

• How easy will it be to perform diagnostics and disassemble the packs?

• What will be the prevailing cell chemistry, i.e. energy metal needs, when battery packs reach end-of-life?

• Will the ultimate material recovery process produce a recycled output that can be:

1) reintroduced into supply chain? 2) have sufficient value to justify the recycling process?

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EV Battery Recycling: How do we close the loop?

Collection + Diagnostics1

Active Material

Separation

Disassembly2,3

Size Reduction

Pyrometallurgy (Smelting)

Acid Leaching + Solvent

Extraction

Active Material Regeneration

Co, Ni Alloys + Pure Metals

Co, Ni, Li Salts4,5

=

=

Precursors, Active Materials6

=

1. Battery Pack Photo Source: http://3dmoliermodels.blogspot.com/2016/05/3d-model-of-tesla-model-s-battery-pack.html2. Module Photo Source: http://www.evwest.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=4633. Cell Photo Source: https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/types_of_battery_cells4. Nickel Sulfate Photo Source: http://www.smm.co.jp/E/products/refining/nickelsu/5. Cobalt Sulfate Photo Source: http://www.sellchems.com/high-quality-cobalt-sulfate-for-sale/ 6. Active Material Photo Source: http://www.smm.co.jp/E/products/material/nickel_lite/

Al + Cu Current Collectors

Plastics, Cell Casings

#1

#2

#3

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Thank You

Questions?

From Mine to Market: Energy Metals & Electric Vehicle Industrialization

Evan Leon

Research Assistant

University of Michigan Energy Institute

TE

3

Conference

October 26, 2018

The views contained in this presentation represent Evan Leon’s assessment and do not in any way reflect those of the University of Michigan. Evan Leon would like to

acknowledge the invaluable mentorship and guidance of Dr. Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Senior Economist and Associate Director at the University of Michigan Energy Institute.