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But Kelty says the economics of recycling depend largely on the chemistries of the lithium-ion batteries being used. He adds that lithium is currently one of the least valuable metals to retrieve. For example, the lithium in a Tesla Roadster battery pack would represent roughly $140 of a system with a replacement cost of $36,000. For most lithium-ion batteries, the lithium represents less than 3 percent of production cost.
"The lithium part is a really negligible cost when you compare it to other metals; nickel, cobalt, those are going to be the biggest drivers [of recycling]," says Kelty, adding that Tesla actually makes money by recycling just the nonlithium recycled components of its batteries. "So while we've been reading plenty of articles about the industry running out of lithium, it's totally missing the mark. There's plenty of lithium out there."
Estimates range, but cobalt sells on the market for about $20 per pound, compared to $3 per pound for lithium carbonate. Cobalt, a byproduct of nickel and copper mining, is also scarcer and half of the world's supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a politically unstable region.
Some lithium-ion chemistries are less cost effective to recycle. For example, the lithium iron phosphate batteries produced by A123 Systems don't yield as much value back. The lower-cost materials in A123's batteries give the company an edge over competitors but also make its batteries less economical to recycle.
The lithium situation could change. Industry research consultant Tru Group says the global recession has led to a large surplus of lithium in the market, keeping prices low. The consultancy, however, expects that by 2013, supply and demand will be in balance again and that a production crunch could occur around 2017 and beyond.
Over the long term, some observers believe the mass introduction of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles, combined with the fact that much of the world's lithium reserves lie in foreign and potentially unfriendly countries, could lead to a large spike in the price of lithium carbonate. The concern is that we could end up trading "peak oil" for "peak lithium."
Gaines is looking at the scarcity issue closely. She is overseeing a four-year project at Argonne that will assess the long-term demand for lithium-ion battery materials and recycling infrastructure. Gaines says research to date shows that demand could be met until 2050, even if plug-in vehicle sales grow dramatically. But recycling will be crucial to helping the US become less dependent on foreign sources of lithium. "We show that recycling would alleviate potentially tight supplies," she says.
Nanotube anodes could lead to higher-energy, faster-charging batteries for cell phones and notebooks.
DOE funds the development of low-cost sodium-ion batteries.
The recovered lithium salts apparently have little value compared to other types of metals used in batteries. However, like Petroleum, we may eventually see some type of risk associated with the continued reliance on the stuff.
Does it make sense to start up a Strategic Lithium Reserve that the US can then use to stockpile this material in the event of some unforeseen shortage or is it cheaper to start thinking of a battery type that uses alternate material to avoid a shortage all together - preferably with a material we have in our own back yard and don't have to import or be held hostage to later?
Ha ha !!
the strategic petroleum reserve has little more than symbolic political use. stupid politicians actually listen to dorks who clamber for piping it out when prices go up instead of waiting for a real emergency.
Also if the gov't gets involved, the total costs will far outweigh any gain in paying slight increases that stimulate more production if supplies get tight. Plus giving jobs to political cronies whose only qualification is 'raising palamino ponies' like the disgraced fema head.
it's a global economy.
Maybe they'd be less revolting in Bolivia (I mean have less revolutions) if they got some income.
The other funny thing is the 'xx years supply' available of lithium claims. The point of you having 15 years supply doesn't mean that you will actually run out in 15 years, it means that if there ARE 15 years supply it doesn't pay to go dig up or look for more.
Petroleum has been this way for a century. Of course we have now reached the 'peak petroleum' where supplies are dwindling and there are no more easy to get supplies. Opec countries like the saudis, after pumping heavily for 40 years or more, still claim the original or even more reserves, which can't be verified since no one from outside the country works for their oil company's offices.
Russia and mexico has been using their oil fields as a national cash cow, without investing in infrastructure to ramp up declining production (mexico will become a net importer of oil shortly and their bloated pemex payroll and theft of investment money by the central government mean output is dropping 16% yearly in some fields)
and hugo's venezuela has kicked out talented oil engineers because they didn't vote for him, and nationalized much of the oil infrastructure, leading to more declines in the hard to get heavy crude, besides stupidly subsidizing gasoline at 29 cents per gallon.
And if politicians are stupid enuf to tax away all the money big oil makes then they won't explore or dig up more. Of course we still need to get heavily into alternative energy sources.
unlike petroleum, we haven't been digging up lithium in large amounts for a century.
Quoting the price of cobalt metal vs lithium carbonate doesn't seem like a fair comparison. After all, lithium carbonate is less than 20% lithium by weight. On the other hand, a given weight of lithium has 8.5 times as many atoms as the same weight of cobalt.
I thought that the US bailout money was only to be used to "Buy American". But I guess that only applies to Canadian goods, not Canadian companies.
"Holy Hypocrisy, Batman, the Americans can't even live by their OWN rules."
Hi,
Thanks for writing such an interesting article. Its really good to know about the batteries in detail. Seriously do we realize how many things in your house that need batteries? Let’s count it, from the flashlight, cell phone, iPod, cameras, and many more. Knowing it should make us realize on how essential the presence of the batteries in our daily life. However, with that so many kinds of battery, which is generally different between one to another, sometimes we have some difficulties in finding the desired type.
Find the right batteries supplier is not hard if you check out batterystation.co.uk because this website provides the widest selection of batteries and you can choose the right battery based on the categories. You can get the procell batteries which available in several sizes and voltage. You also can find Duracell batteries that divided into duracell plus batteries and duracell ultra batteries. All of the batteries come with cheaper price because this website provides the discount batteries in bulk, wholesale, and retail quantities.
Thanks,
Mike Bell
??!
I'm a Chinese student and wangt to know something about recycling of lithium-ion secondary batteries. I think you are a expert. Can you gave me some review paper. Thank you very much. My mailbox is chenming1218717@163.com
Thank you again.
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43 Comments
Ultracapcitors
A little more help... putting ultra-capacitors in front of the L-Ion batteries will extend the the life-time of the batteries. ultra-capacitors are also very good as reclaiming power from regenerative braking.
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