Chemetall Statement
Chemetall as the leading producer of lithium compounds is committed to expand capacities and to develop tailor-made products in order to satisfy customer demands.
Worldwide Lithium Reserves
- Current estimates of worldwide Lithium reserves total about 30,000,000 tonnes Lithium. (or 150,000,000 tonnes Lithium Carbonate)*
- Current worldwide demand is about 23,000 tonnes Lithium. (or 122,000 tonnes carbonate)*
*The Economics of Lithium, Roskill Market Reports, 11th Edition, 2009
Lithium Batteries for the Automotive Industry
Lithium Products for Battery Industry
Hybrid Electric Vehicle / Electric Vehicle Market Growth
Market Developments
Battery makers are racing to develop lithium-ion cells to power new generations of plug-in hybrids and electric cars.
Estimation of Lithium Carbonate Demand 2020
Assumptions for the degree of penetration of E-cars in the market
- 60 million cars are registered as new cars world wide p.a.
- Lithium Carbonate consumption per 1 kw/h is 0.6 kg
- Industry expects the e-car share to reach approx. 1 - 10% in 2020
Two scenarios
All figures are in tons Lithium Carbonate Equivalents (LCE)
1,6% penetration / 1,000,000 cars
Scenario A (60% EV) for 1,6% penetration / 1,000,000 cars
- 10,080 t Automotive demand
- 50,000 t others (including a net growth of 2% until 2020)
- 35,000 t others LIB
- 95,080 t total lithium carbonate
Scenario B (60%HEV) for 1,6% penetration / 1,000,000 cars
- 5,160 t Automotive demand
- 50,000 t others (including a net growth of 2% until 2020)
- 35,000 t others LIB
- 90,160 t total lithium carbonate
In both scenarios the demand could be covered by the Salar del Atacama resources.
10% penetration / 6,000,000 cars
Scenario A (60% EV) for 10% penetration / 6,000,000 cars
- 60,480 t automotive demand
- 50,000 t others (including a net growth of 2% until 2020)
- 35,000 t others LIB
- 145,480 t total lithium carbonate
Scenario B (60%HEV) for 10% penetration / 6,000,000 cars
- 30,960 t automotive demand
- 50,000 t others (including a net growth of 2% until 2020)
- 35,000 t others LIB
- 115,960 t total lithium carbonate
In both scenarios the demand could be covered by the Salar del Atacama resources.
Sustainability of world wide resources
Worldwide available resources: 150 million MT LCE
For
- Scenario A (10% penetration): reserves will last for 1030 years
- Scenario B (10% penetration): reserves will last for 1293 years
Salar de Atacama resources: 31,5 million MT LCE
For
- Scenario A (10% penetration): reserves will last for 216 years
- Scenario B (10% penetration): reserves will last for 271 years
Future Recycling Potential
- Due to an estimated life time of 10 years for a typical car battery effects from recycling will start after that period.
- At an expected recycling rate of 50% of the incorporated Lithium (75 - 80 % from chemical pulping plus some extra losses from battery disassembling).
- After 2030 we expect an increasing share from recycling.
