I have posted about this in the past. In effect lithium ion batteries are moving to more nickel based in the cathode. As a result if you get to 2000 GHh in 2030 you are going to need a hell of a lot of nickel (as well as lithium). The move to NCM batteries 8:1:1 is also what makes lithium hydroxide the needed input as well in the converters etc.
Post #: 45972949 (just look at the graph in this post if don't want to read the embedded post itself). Oh what the hell here is the graph, with comments in embedded post:
Nickel importance in lithium ion batteries
Moving to a 8:1:1 configuration that such batteries now need lithium hydroxide, and hence why hard rock plays can compete with brines, and infact are preferred to brines where those hard rock deposits have low impurities. If we reverted back to a much lower nickel configurations in the cathode then that would be the domain of lithium carbonate and hence brines. To take the following from a previous post and article https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/1836977-lithium-hydroxide-demand-to-overtake-carbonate-aabc:
"But the higher nickel content in NCM cathodes can present challenges in terms of chemical stability. If the metals are used in a ratio of six parts nickel to two parts cobalt and two parts manganese (6-2-2), or 8-1-1, rather than 1-1-1 or 5-3-2 as in the past, the chemistry requires lithium hydroxide rather than lithium carbonate. Cathodes using an 8-1-1 ratio are some way from commercial viability, owing to safety problems with the chemistry, delegates heard.....As nickel content approaches 60pc, the higher temperature required to synthesise cathode material with lithium carbonate damages the crystal structure of the cathode and changes the oxidation state of the nickel metal. But lithium hydroxide allows rapid and complete synthesis at lower temperatures, increasing the performance and lifespan of the battery, said Marina Yakovleva, global commercial manager for new product and technology development at lithium producer Livent."
Why different configurations of nickel/cobalt/manganese in NCM batteries - read improved energy density and distance, which is what you want to compete with ICE vehicles btw and reduce costs of vehicle operation (my hypothesis).
All IMO
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