Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries have emerged as the leading battery technology for a wide variety of applications, including mobile devices, grid-scale energy storage and electric vehicles (EVs). The market for Li-ion batteries for automobiles is expected to expand rapidly over the next 10 years, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for consumers drawing the largest share. According to a recent report from Navigant Research, worldwide revenue from Li-ion batteries for all consumer EVs will grow from $5.7 billion in 2014 to $24.1 billion in 2023, with BEVs accounting for $15.1 billion of that total.
“The capabilities of Li-ion batteries have overtaken other technologies in most electrified light duty transportation applications,” said David Alexander, senior research analyst with Navigant Research. “They are up to 95 percent efficient, they have a potential lifespan of 20 years, and costs could be reduced significantly in high-volume production in the coming years.”
One challenge for suppliers of Li-ion batteries, according to the report, is that automakers have not yet agreed on battery performance standards. Today, almost every vehicle manufacturer uses its own battery pack specification, and making slightly different batteries for each customer limits the ability of battery manufacturers to optimize production facilities.
The report, “Electric Vehicle Batteries”, provides a detailed examination of the growing market for Li-ion batteries, including profiles of the leading Li-ion battery manufacturers and systems integrators. It assesses the relative sizes of the battery markets for different vehicle types, as well as vehicle roadmaps and projected sales for BEVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles. Global market forecasts for revenue from Li-ion batteries, segmented by vehicle type and region, extend through 2023. The report also includes a review of the different Li-ion battery chemistries and competing technologies, such as ultracapacitors and NiMH batteries.
