The midstream segment of the lithium battery supply chain is a pivotal stage that encompasses the intricate processes of processing, manufacturing, and assembling lithium-ion batteries.
RMP has added a new GIS database to our map library called the Lithium-ion Battery Supply Chain Map. In April of 2024, RMP set out to understand the data underpinning the nascent lithium-ion battery supply chain in North America. Each year, more batteries are being manufactured helping to electrify our vehicle fleet and more growth is projected.
How are lithium ion batteries made?
After mining or extracting the raw minerals and materials—typically, lithium, cobalt, manganese, nickel, and graphite—processors and refiners purify them. The materials are then used to create cathode and anode active battery materials, which are commonly referred to as the midstream portion of the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
Is the lithium-ion battery supply chain sustainable?
RMP will remain grounded in the reality the lithium-ion battery supply chain is dominated by China as far out as we can see. Until we are making our own batteries in the USA with North American raw materials & refined materials & recycled materials, the lithium-ion battery supply chain is not really green or sustainable.
How will the lithium-ion battery supply chain change over the next 15 years?
Over the next 15 years, the lithium-ion battery supply chain in North America is projected to grow dramatically. By 2035, the USA is projected to be the #2 producer of upstream and midstream lithium-ion battery materials and control 17% of global market share.
Which country dominates the lithium battery supply chain?
As noted, China largely dominates this portion of the lithium battery supply chain, followed by South Korea and Japan. China's dominance is strengthened by its sway over the production of inputs higher up the supply chain, as well as its strong influence over the global prices of key commodities.
What is a lithium ion battery?
As mentioned in the first paper of this series, a lithium-ion battery usually includes multiple lithium-ion cells, which function as interconnected building blocks. A lithium-ion cell is chiefly made up of an anode, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The anode is the negative electrode in a cell, whereas the positive side is the cathode.