Pulling together an estimate of the key minerals in a battery so that we can use this within the Battery Pack Database. That would then allow us to offer a key set of numbers for battery recycling.
This image has done the rounds of the internet and might be a good place to start with an estimate.
The mass of each element is based on the materials in the cells of a 60kWh pack [1].
This post has been built based on the support and sponsorship from: Eatron Technologies, About:Energy, AVANT Future Mobility, Quarto Technical Services and TAE Power Solutions.
The data for this rather lovely picture appears to be from Statista [2].
Using this as a reference we can then extend this across the wider chemistries, still based on a 60kWh pack.
| Lithium | Cobalt | Nickel | Manganese | Graphite | Aluminium | Copper | Steel | Iron | |
| LFP | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 66 | 44 | 26 | 26 | 41 |
| NCA | 6 | 2 | 43 | 0 | 44 | 30 | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| NMC111 | 6 | 18.8 | 22 | 17.5 | 53 | 35 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| NMC532 | 6 | 11 | 28 | 16 | 53 | 35 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| NMC622 | 6 | 11 | 32 | 10 | 50 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| NMC712 | 6 | 11 | 35.4 | 4.8 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| NMC811 | 6 | 5 | 39 | 5 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| NMC9525 | 6 | .5 | 44.5 | 0.7 | 45 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
This is just based on the cells in the pack and we know that the cell to pack mass ratio is between 52% and 90%. Hence a lot of components missing: HV busbars, pack enclosure, cooling plates.
The next step is to estimate a few battery packs and use those as reference points.
A ground up chemistry calculation will also be done based on composition.
References
- The Key Minerals in an EV Battery, elements.visualcapitalist.com
- Mineral content of selected electric vehicle lithium-ion battery types in 2020, statista.com
See also: Precursor Cathode Active Material