Possibilities of minimising cobalt usage in the electric passenger car industry

Sammanfattning

Lithium-ion batteries are an essential and important part of the future, and play acrucial role in fulfilling the Paris agreement and the building of a sustainable future.Battery electric cars are pointed out as a key solution to electrify the transportindustry and the majority of electric cars today are equipped with NMC batteries.Due to shortage and the complex supply chains, high price and the poor workingconditions associated with cobalt mining, the industry works to phase out cobaltand replace cobalt-rich NMC batteries with different cathode chemistries containingless cobalt. By using literature studies and manufacturing coin cells with differentcathode chemistries, this report aims to investigate whether alternative cathodescan be used today or within the near future. The investigated cathodes were examinedin terms of cost, performance, safety, environmental- and social sustainability.Moreover, interviews with two representatives from the industry were conducted todiscuss industry information and deepen the general comprehension of large scalebattery production. The conclusion that could be drawn was that there are severalpossible alternative cathode chemistries without cobalt. However, all examined cathodechemistries have advantages and limitations that make different cell chemistriesbetter suited depending on the usage.Lithium-ion batteries are an essential and important part of the future, and play acrucial role in fulfilling the Paris agreement and the building of a sustainable future.Battery electric cars are pointed out as a key solution to electrify the transportindustry and the majority of electric cars today are equipped with NMC batteries.Due to shortage and the complex supply chains, high price and the poor workingconditions associated with cobalt mining, the industry works to phase out cobaltand replace cobalt-rich NMC batteries with different cathode chemistries containingless cobalt. By using literature studies and manufacturing coin cells with differentcathode chemistries, this report aims to investigate whether alternative cathodescan be used today or within the near future. The investigated cathodes were examinedin terms of cost, performance, safety, environmental- and social sustainability.Moreover, interviews with two representatives from the industry were conducted todiscuss industry information and deepen the general comprehension of large scalebattery production. The conclusion that could be drawn was that there are severalpossible alternative cathode chemistries without cobalt. However, all examined cathodechemistries have advantages and limitations that make different cell chemistriesbetter suited depending on the usage.