MATERIALS
require in the region of 10-15kg. The motor is the determining factor in this range, with factors like having single or dual motors and the motors design having a large impact on the copper required. However, the copper demand for these individual components is still small compared with the battery. IDTechEx’s research finds that the average 64kWh battery in a fully electric car requires 25.4kg of copper. Copper’s electrical and chemical
properties mean that it is used throughout the battery. Every single cell within the battery, of which there are hundreds or thousands, contains a copper foil to carry power out of the cell. Additionally, there are large copper bars throughout carrying power from the cells out of the battery to high voltage cables and eventually the power electronics and motor. Finally, battery chemistry is one
of the biggest factors governing how much energy a cell can store. Assuming that everything else remains the same, such as material thicknesses and cell form factor, then if chemistry A has double the energy of chemistry B, batteries made with
chemistry A will have half the copper of batteries with chemistry B for the same overall energy capacity. In reality, this is not far off the situation with the leading battery chemistries - NMC and LFP. IDTechEx’s research found that the average copper intensity in kg/kWh of an LFP cell was nearly double that of an NMC cell. Other chemistries are available and
have their place in electrification, but for the automotive market over the next 10 years, IDTechEx predicts that LFP and NMC will dominate, accounting for more than 90% of
the market between them. LFP will likely grow its market share between now and then thanks to its good- enough energy density and lower prices compared to NMC. This will cause a corresponding increase in copper demand for electric vehicles, as coupled with LFP’s higher copper intensity, IDTechEx also expects average battery sizes per vehicle to increase. ●
For more information visit
www.idtechex.com
Copper wire cable production in coils
www.engineerlive.com
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