Wednesday, January 4, 2023

What is the price of replacing the batteries in electric cars?

replacing ev batteries, cost of replacing ev battery

Any queries readers may have regarding battery electric vehicles, charging, or other topics are welcome. So kindly post them, and we'll have our subject-matter experts address them and ask others to weigh in in the comments area.

I have a question about the price of replacing a battery in a BEV that is available in Australia. Has the manufacturer provided information on how long the battery will last before needing to be replaced?

Before purchasing a BEV, many consumers are concerned about this important issue. Andrew, with all due respect.

Hello Andrew Yes, the cost and timing of EV battery replacement are key considerations, but possibly not to the extent that the general public believes.

I will first separate the question into two sections. How likely is it that the battery will need to be changed at some point while the car is being used? What would a potential battery replacement cost? Will the battery require replacement at some point while the car is in operation? Two issues must be looked at in order to respond to this query: When is a battery "fit for purpose" again? How long is the car's lifespan, too?

First, a sizable portion of producers guarantee their batteries will still have at least 70% of their original capacity after 8 years. This translates to a minimum range of 315–350 km at the age of 8 years for a Hyundai Kona with a city range of 450–500 km. For many people, if not the majority, this entails working out possibly twice weekly rather than once. The same goes for long distance travel; you might need to make a few extra stops to rest, like on your journey from Sydney to Brisbane.

It's crucial to realise that the battery won't "die" after 8 years; instead, its available range will decrease. Remember that the loss is more severe the smaller the battery.

For example, the early Nissan Leaf had a real range of only 120 km. This means that during the 8-year warranty period, it can drop to 84 km and not be replaced under warranty. By now, the oldest Leafs here are 11 years old, and at this rate of decline, their range could have dropped to 70 km. (Even lower in winter when using the heating/air conditioning system). If you use it for more than just getting to your local retailers, it's probably time to replace! However, even while many early (2011–2014) Leaf models did degrade at this (or a worse) rate, it appears that contemporary EV batteries (with improved battery chemistry and thermal management systems) are not degrading as quickly. As a result, this projection represents the worst case scenario.Actually, according to the analysis, the vast majority of batteries will survive longer than the lifespan of the vehicle if observed rates of degradation persist. Given that this was an average that includes many early EVs, utilising their web tool to highlight certain models reveals that many later models show deterioration rates that are substantially lower than the average.For those purchasing current model EVs with larger batteries, it is anticipated that a battery replacement will be required after 10 years or more. This brings us to the conclusion of portion (a). This electric vehicle also has an eight-year guarantee period (if ever) before a new battery is actually required, so it can be used as a second vehicle for short excursions until the old ICE vehicle finally becomes obsolete or as the children grow older, etc.

How long does an automobile have a "life"? So when does an electric vehicle's interior, suspension, steering, and electronics become worn to the point where it indicates the vehicle has reached the end of its useful life? 20 years seems like a reasonable guess, and that's the number I recently heard to explain why we should set 2030 as the last date for the ban on sales of new ICE vehicles if we hope to achieve zero emissions by 2050. The average age of the Australian car fleet is 10.6 years (2020-2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics). As a result, it is appropriate to respond to the question above by saying that an electric car may never require a battery replacement; alternatively, no more than one battery replacement per lifetime will be required and if replacement is required.

What would a potential battery replacement cost? Early on, there were numerous horror stories of the Nissan Leaf's battery draining quickly and costing upwards of $30,000 to replace it. These anxieties proved to be unnecessary in the end. Throughout the 8-year guarantee period, batteries that degraded more quickly than they ought to have were replaced at no cost. Thankfully, the price of a dealer-installed replacement battery has decreased to roughly $10,000 for a 24kWh battery since the 8-year guarantee has run out. Additionally, it was discovered that many of these systems had only a few problematic components and the remainder were in working order when the failed battery packs were sent back to the factory.In Japan, refurbished packages for the ZE0 or AZEO Leaf sell for around US$2,900 (around AU$4,000).Also, as these cars fall off the road in accidents, a ready stock of used batteries is available to private businesses to experiment with. As a result, some have begun offering aftermarket replacement (in some cases upgraded) batteries*. Meanwhile, the bulk of the cost of BEVs - the battery - has fallen in price about as rapidly as solar panel prices in the early 2000s. In 2010, electric vehicle battery prices rose by about US$1,100/kWh but have now fallen to US$137/kWh. (See Chart 1. Note the US dollar amounts used). The key point for BEV and ICE price parity is predicted to be $100/kWh, with 2024 being the likely date to start.

It appears that when the present generation of electric vehicles may require new batteries, the price will be roughly 4000 USD if the cost per kilowatt-hour is already $137 and BNEF expects it will reach $58 per kilowatt-hour by 2030. A 64 kWh Kona battery costs (AU$5,400). When applied to the original sheet, this will mirror the pricing and drop depicted in Chart 1. Returning to the response to part (a) of this question, it is doubtful that this battery will need to be replaced in such a circumstance. In fact, this might be plenty for the duration of the car. For instance, Tesla recommends a "million mile battery" (one that lasts a million miles, which is 1.6 million kilometers)Batteries for electric vehicles don't need to be replaced every 8 to 10 years; by 2030, the cost of a new Kona battery is projected to be under $10,000 and perhaps even below $5,400. (with prices for remanufactured batteries again significantly lower) A lifetime of car servicing may mean that an EV battery never needs to be changed. I hope this clarifies your query. Andrew? *I'm currently working on an article about iMiEV and ZE0/AZEO Leaf battery replacement possibilities in Australia. I hope this clarifies your query. Andrew? *I'm currently working on an article about iMiEV and ZE0/AZEO Leaf battery replacement possibilities in Australia. I hope this clarifies your query. Andrew? Notes: I'm now working on a piece about possibilities for Australian batteries.

Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Someone is who in the industry that produces the batteries, what are electric car batteries made of ?

Electric car production has long since stopped being exceptional. Sales and production of this kind of car are increasing year after year due to the pressure the European Union is giving manufacturers to electrify their fleets and its explosion in Asia. But who supplies these vehicles' batteries?

Various stories about Tesla developing its network of gigafactories or Volkswagen establishing a facility in Sagunto specifically for this reason have surfaced in recent months. Mercedes intends to construct them independently, cutting away middlemen. However, the vast majority of the batteries in electric vehicles have the logos of the firms listed below and are located underneath the seats.

Who is who in the battery industry

Asia is the only place to consider when discussing battery production. For a nascent market, the eastern countries have become experts in producing this kind of component. Consider the fact that China is the biggest consumer and manufacturer of electric automobiles.

Asian companies are also producing batteries alongside novel structural systems like chassis-integrated batteries or battery exchanges, like the project that NIO is currently testing in actual usage.

However, a report by SNE Research compiles the top corporations globally, month by month, in terms of battery manufacturing.

CATL

The world's largest supplier and manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles is the Chinese firm CATL. Its components are present in electric vehicles made by Tesla, BMW, or Volkswagen. Of course, there are other Chinese brands, such with the Aiways U5.

CATL has been a corporation sponsored by the Chinese Government, which has always kept its capital in the nation and has kept it afloat until its explosion, aware of the importance in the supply of batteries for electric cars. It now manufactures the most of these parts, between 8 and 10 GWh of batteries each month, making it the leading producer of these components. At the moment, its competitors can only produce 4 GWh.

All of this has made it possible for it to rank among the 100 most important businesses for Time magazine in 2022. Their brand-new sodium ion batteries are the cause. These parts can be produced using sea water and solve one of the major issues with battery manufacturing, which is a huge need for fresh water.

Energy Solutions by LG

The LG battery division is a few bodies behind. In monthly reports, LG and BYD are typically listed as the world's second-largest battery manufacturers. Their output typically ranges from 3 to 4 GWh per month.

The name LG Energy Solutions was previously LG Chem until September 2020. Following the acquisition of the current name, the South Korean company expanded its operations by providing services associated with battery production, such as residential energy storage facilities. In terms of electric vehicles, LG instals its components in the Chinese-made Tesla Model 3 and Renault ZOE, and it has been a key partner of European companies as they embraced this technology. Some vehicles with South Korean modules include the Mercedes EQC, Audi e-tron, and Jaguar i-Pace.

BYD

As we previously mentioned, BYD is another brand that frequently ranks high in the production of batteries. In our nation, this Chinese corporation is well-known for providing buses to cities like Madrid.

BYD produces batteries not just for electric automobiles, like LG does. They are also interested in larger-scale installations like industrial ones, as well as buses, vehicles, and electric bikes. Despite these commercial sectors, it is notable for the production of electric vehicles, with more than 100,000 units sold in total between hybrid and electric vehicles.

Panasonic

Fights with LG and BYD, two reputable companies in our nation. Another major battery manufacturer, Panasonic, produces roughly 3 GWh of batteries per month. It is also the sole Japanese company to make the list of the top 10 manufacturers of this particular component.

In this instance, one of the businesses that has been most closely associated with Panasonic's future is Tesla. In fact, cars with the new batteries mounted must be delivered this year. A recent investment of 4,900 million euros in new mobility, of which 3,200 million are specifically allocated to the development of these components, demonstrates the dedication to this kind of product.

Sk On

Sk On is located close to the 2 GWh produced monthly threshold. Like LG, Sk On is a business that was established from Sk Innovation and is solely focused on producing batteries.

According to Electrive, the company now has three plants in China with a combined capacity of 27 GWh per year, so its output should be near to its maximum. Additionally, it has already been proposed to build a new facility, which would be the biggest of them all and would cost 2,200 million euros.

Ford is one of Sk On's most significant business partners going forward. The US company has planned an investment of $11.4 billion for the building of two factories in partnership with the battery industry. necessary to advance your Ford Model e approach.

CALB

CALB is another manufacturer that is expanding rapidly. The company has already surpassed the 1 GWh production threshold for batteries, and its expansion has aided Chinese enterprises in this industry in their push into South Korea.

Two additional factories in China are included in the expansion plans for this growth. When the new facilities are operating at full capacity, it is anticipated that they will be able to produce 50 GWh more each.

Guoxuan

Guoxuan is one of the Chinese businesses that has caught the attention of the West. To ensure the production of these parts for the cars that the Germans sell in the Asian nation, this battery manufacturer sold Volkswagen 20% of its shares in 2020.

However, they also unveiled new batteries featuring LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cells last year, which would achieve a record energy density of 212 Wh/kg. This technology, which is already included in the Tesla Model 3 that has just arrived from China, appears to have been made in the US.