Impact of lithium abundance and cost on electric vehicle applications. Final report
This report addresses the issues of realistic specific energy levels attainable with lithium (Li) batteries, the maximum number of electric vehicles as limited by the identified Li world reserves, and the anticipated battery price. The Li-ion battery, specifically, LiC{sub 6}/Li{sub x}NiO{sub 2}, serves as the basis for the analysis presented here. The report shows that economically recoverable Li world reserves are sufficient to meet the demands of current new passenger car world production and its anticipated growth in the next 50 years. Currently identified world reserves can power 2 billion cars with Li-ion batteries, four times the number of cars presently registered in the world. World annual Li production of 10,000 metric tons would have to be increased 13-fold to power current new car world production with Li-ion batteries. Such increase of the production capacity is seen as principally feasible. The theoretical reactant cost--the absolute minimum cost of the battery reactants--for the Li-ion battery with a nickel oxide cathode is $19.20/kWh, compared to $15.40/kWh for the nickel/cadmium (Ni/Cd) battery and $29.40/kWh for the Ni/metalhydride battery. By comparison with the large-volume price for Ni/Cd vehicle batteries, a minimum price of $330/kWh or $8,000 per 24-kWh battery is predicted for mass-produced Li-ion vehicle batteries once the technology has matured. A battery life of 1,000 cycles, already demonstrated in laboratory cells, results in approximately 10 years of use and total vehicle mileage of 126,000 miles. The cost of battery ownership and electric fuel combined is $.11/mile and that of car ownership and fuel combined is $.27/mile, if based on a vehicle price of $23,000. This compares to $.26/mile for the current cost of ownership of gasoline-powered cars, averaged over varying car sizes. Cost of insurance is not included in either case.
- Research Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst. (EPRI), Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 257399
- Report Number(s):
- EPRI-TR-106556; TRN: AHC29615%%96
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Jun 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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