IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v15y2024i1d10.1038_s41467-024-46418-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Electric vehicle battery chemistry affects supply chain disruption vulnerabilities

Author

Listed:
  • Anthony L. Cheng

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Erica R. H. Fuchs

    (Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Valerie J. Karplus

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University)

  • Jeremy J. Michalek

    (Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University
    Carnegie Mellon University)

Abstract

We examine the relationship between electric vehicle battery chemistry and supply chain disruption vulnerability for four critical minerals: lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. We compare the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode chemistries by (1) mapping the supply chains for these four materials, (2) calculating a vulnerability index for each cathode chemistry for various focal countries and (3) using network flow optimization to bound uncertainties. World supply is currently vulnerable to disruptions in China for both chemistries: 80% [71% to 100%] of NMC cathodes and 92% [90% to 93%] of LFP cathodes include minerals that pass through China. NMC has additional risks due to concentrations of nickel, cobalt, and manganese in other countries. The combined vulnerability of multiple supply chain stages is substantially larger than at individual steps alone. Our results suggest that reducing risk requires addressing vulnerabilities across the entire battery supply chain.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony L. Cheng & Erica R. H. Fuchs & Valerie J. Karplus & Jeremy J. Michalek, 2024. "Electric vehicle battery chemistry affects supply chain disruption vulnerabilities," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46418-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46418-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-46418-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-024-46418-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marc Wentker & Matthew Greenwood & Jens Leker, 2019. "A Bottom-Up Approach to Lithium-Ion Battery Cost Modeling with a Focus on Cathode Active Materials," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Joris Baars & Teresa Domenech & Raimund Bleischwitz & Hans Eric Melin & Oliver Heidrich, 2021. "Circular economy strategies for electric vehicle batteries reduce reliance on raw materials," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 71-79, January.
    3. Hao, Hongchang & Xing, Wanli & Wang, Anjian & Song, Hao & Han, Yawen & Zhao, Pei & Xie, Ziqi & Chen, Xuemei, 2022. "Multi-layer networks research on analyzing supply risk transmission of lithium industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    4. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & Tukker, Arnold & van der Voet, Ester, 2022. "Material requirements for low-carbon energy technologies: A quantitative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Greenwood, Matthew & Wentker, Marc & Leker, Jens, 2021. "A region-specific raw material and lithium-ion battery criticality methodology with an assessment of NMC cathode technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    6. Tian, Xu & Geng, Yong & Sarkis, Joseph & Gao, Cuixia & Sun, Xin & Micic, Tatyana & Hao, Han & Wang, Xin, 2021. "Features of critical resource trade networks of lithium-ion batteries," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hao, Hongchang & Ma, Zhe & Wang, Anjian & Xing, Wanli & Song, Hao & Zhao, Pei & Wei, Jiangqiao & Zheng, Shuxian, 2023. "Modeling and assessing the robustness of the lithium global trade system against cascading failures," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    2. Yang, Chen, 2022. "Running battery electric vehicles with extended range: Coupling cost and energy analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    3. Hu, Xiaoqian & Wang, Chao & Lim, Ming K. & Chen, Wei-Qiang & Teng, Limin & Wang, Peng & Wang, Heming & Zhang, Chao & Yao, Cuiyou & Ghadimi, Pezhman, 2023. "Critical systemic risk sources in global lithium-ion battery supply networks: Static and dynamic network perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    4. Chen, Jinyu & Luo, Qian & Sun, Xin & Zhang, Zitao & Dong, Xuesong, 2023. "The impact of renewable energy consumption on lithium trade patterns: An industrial chain perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    5. Idiano D'Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Ilhan Ozturk, 2023. "The sustainable development of mobility in the green transition: Renewable energy, local industrial chain, and battery recycling," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(2), pages 840-852, April.
    6. Tang, Qianyong & Li, Huajiao & Qi, Yajie & Li, Yang & Liu, Haiping & Wang, Xingxing, 2023. "The reliability of the trade dependence network in the tungsten industry chain based on percolation," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Srivastava, Nidhi, 2023. "Trade in critical minerals: Revisiting the legal regime in times of energy transition," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Idiano D’Adamo & Massimo Gastaldi & Jacopo Piccioni & Paolo Rosa, 2023. "The Role of Automotive Flexibility in Supporting the Diffusion of Sustainable Mobility Initiatives: A Stakeholder Attitudes Assessment," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(3), pages 459-481, September.
    9. Johannes Morfeldt & Daniel J. A. Johansson, 2022. "Impacts of shared mobility on vehicle lifetimes and on the carbon footprint of electric vehicles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    10. Yue Ren & Xin Sun & Paul Wolfram & Shaoqiong Zhao & Xu Tang & Yifei Kang & Dongchang Zhao & Xinzhu Zheng, 2023. "Hidden delays of climate mitigation benefits in the race for electric vehicle deployment," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Shi, Qing & Sun, Xiaoqi & Xu, Man & Wang, Mengjiao, 2022. "The multiplex network structure of global cobalt industry chain," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    12. Zhou, Xi-Yin & Xu, Zhicheng & Zheng, Jialin & Zhou, Ya & Lei, Kun & Fu, Jiafeng & Khu, Soon-Thiam & Yang, Junfeng, 2023. "Internal spillover effect of carbon emission between transportation sectors and electricity generation sectors," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 356-366.
    13. Huang, Jianbai & Dong, Xuesong & Chen, Jinyu & Zeng, Anqi, 2023. "The slow-release effect of recycling on rapid demand growth of critical metals from EV batteries up to 2050: Evidence from China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    14. Song, Huiling & Wang, Chang & Sun, Kun & Geng, Hongjun & Zuo, Lyushui, 2023. "Material efficiency strategies across the industrial chain to secure indium availability for global carbon neutrality," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    15. Rao Fu & Kun Peng & Peng Wang & Honglin Zhong & Bin Chen & Pengfei Zhang & Yiyi Zhang & Dongyang Chen & Xi Liu & Kuishuang Feng & Jiashuo Li, 2023. "Tracing metal footprints via global renewable power value chains," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    16. Artur Kozłowski & Łukasz Bołoz, 2021. "Design and Research on Power Systems and Algorithms for Controlling Electric Underground Mining Machines Powered by Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-21, July.
    17. Zhao, Guimei & Li, Wenxiu & Geng, Yong & Bleischwitz, Raimund, 2023. "Uncovering the features of global antimony resource trade network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    18. Duffner, Fabian & Mauler, Lukas & Wentker, Marc & Leker, Jens & Winter, Martin, 2021. "Large-scale automotive battery cell manufacturing: Analyzing strategic and operational effects on manufacturing costs," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    19. Natalie D. Popovich & Deepak Rajagopal & Elif Tasar & Amol Phadke, 2021. "Economic, environmental and grid-resilience benefits of converting diesel trains to battery-electric," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(11), pages 1017-1025, November.
    20. Kang, Xinyu & Wang, Minxi & Chen, Lu & Li, Xin, 2023. "Supply risk propagation of global copper industry chain based on multi-layer complex network," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46418-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.