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Battery materials
Overview
Growth in global electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) production has put a spotlight on battery materials. While lithium-ion batteries dominate the current market, this is a rapidly emerging technology space where improved range or charge times can quicky shift industry sentiment and investment in a different direction.
Argus is at the forefront of battery materials pricing and reporting with coverage of common battery metals (lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite), industry-grade cathodes and black mass. As experts in specialty metals and rare earths, we future-proof our price assessment portfolio with a range of electronic metals crucial to the manufacture of technology deployed in modern vehicles.
Our Argus Battery Materials and Argus Non-Ferrous Markets services help businesses to understand these complicated supply chains, including price volatility and sustainability challenges around future demand.
Minor metals: Battery metals
As automakers continue to invest in electric vehicle production and power companies explore infrastructure that includes energy storage programmes, the metals contained in lithium-ion batteries supporting these products has attracted interest from investors, institutions and manufacturers alike.
Argus is well positioned to provide insight into price volatility, global supply and responsible material sourcing for all manufacturers and investors in this sector.
Highlights of Argus battery materials coverage
- Understand the context of significant price movements and industry trends with a weekly PDF that highlights the most important market news across lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel and other common battery materials
- Mitigate risk and perform reliable forward planning with 1-year and 10-year forecasts across different battery metals, chemistries and industries
- Gain a competitive edge with industry-specific tools, such as the Black Mass Calculator that estimates the intrinsic value of different battery chemistries (including cathodes like NCM111, NCM523, LFP, NCA)
- Invest with confidence knowing Argus is IOSCO-compliant with over 50 years of experience delivering trusted price data and market intelligence
Latest battery materials news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global battery materials industry.
Ford suspends new EV models after further losses
Ford suspends new EV models after further losses
London, 24 June (Argus) — US carmaker Ford has decided to hold back the release of new battery electric vehicle (BEV) models after heavy costs for its existing BEV models forced it to restructure its sales programme. Ford will open up its range of BEVs to all dealerships in the US on 1 July, ending a programme it started in 2022 under which only "certified" dealerships could exclusively sell its EVs. Under programme, which included vehicles such as the Mustang Mach-E sport utility vehicle (SUV), the F-150 Lightning pick-up and the E-Transit van, Ford required "certified" or "certified elite" dealerships to make significant investments in charging infrastructure and customer service. Ford also required dealerships to display their prices on Ford's website, making it difficult for them to make significant mark-ups for EVs in high demand but with limited availability. "We will not launch a second-gen [EV] product unless it's profitable within the first year and we are going to get a return on that capital we're investing," chief financial officer John Lawler said. Ford announced plans in April for an electric truck in 2026 and a three-row SUV in 2027, delayed from 2025. The firm sold 20,223 EVs in the first quarter of this year — up by 86pc on the year — making it the second best-selling EV brand in the US behind Tesla. Tesla posted a 13.3pc fall in sales, down to 140,187 units in the same period. Overall EV sales in the US edged up by just 2.6pc to 268,909 units in the first quarter. Despite strong sales at Ford, the firm posted losses of $1.3bn before interest and taxes from its EV segment during the period, or just over $64,000 for each EV sold, owing to heavy costs. The firm has had to cut prices this year to compete with Tesla, including focusing on smaller, cheaper EVs . The firm also announced delays in EV investments last year worth $12bn , including scaling back plans at its Michigan battery plant . Ford's BEV sales increased by 88pc in January-May on the year to 37,208 units, ahead of 50.9pc for its hybrid vehicles and diesel and gasoline (internal combustion) models ( see graph ) . By Chris Welch Ford Jan-May car sales by propulsion Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Pilbara Minerals eyes more Pilgangoora lithium output
Pilbara Minerals eyes more Pilgangoora lithium output
Singapore, 21 June (Argus) — Australian mining firm Pilbara Minerals has started a feasibility study into raising spodumene production capacity at its Pilgangoora operations in Western Australia. The P2000 expansion project will more than double Pilgangoora's output capacity to over 2mn t/yr, the firm said today. Pilbara forecasts Pilgangoora's output to average around 1.9mn t/yr of 5.2pc grade spodumene in the first 10 years after the P2000 expansion is completed, with production starting from 2028, if it does go ahead. Pilbara estimates A$1.2bn ($798mn) of capital expenditure for the project, which includes building a new ore flotation plant but excludes the extra capital expenditure needed for the mine to support the expansion. The firm approached Australian federal government financing agencies for the project's funding, which it said provided non-binding letters of support for "up to A$400mn" after the initial engagement. "The timing of the P2000 Project will be subject to the successful outcome of the next level of feasibility study, project approvals and the market outlook at the time of the financial investment decision," said the firm. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in October-December 2025, but the firm remained cautious about assuring a final investment decision (FID). Any FID decision needs to come after the study outcome, said managing director and chief executive Dale Henderson. "That's more than a year away, which is frankly an eternity in the lithium industry." The P2000 project will come after the firm's P680 and P1000 projects, which Pilbara Minerals has decided to plough ahead with . The P680 and P1000 projects would raise Pilgangoora's output capacity to 1mn t/yr. The firm earlier this year defended its lithium downstream strategy and is exploring building a downstream conversion plant with Chinese refiner Ganfeng. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Inpex invests in Australian solar, battery project
Inpex invests in Australian solar, battery project
Tokyo, 14 June (Argus) — Japanese upstream firm Inpex has decided to invest in a hybrid solar and battery project in the Australian state of New South Wales, aiming to boost its renewable energy business abroad. Inpex reached a final investment decision on the Quorn Park Hybrid project in Australia, a joint venture project with Italian utility Enel's wholly-owned Australian renewable energy firm Enel Green Power Australia (EGPA), the Japanese firm announced on 14 June. The project consists of solar farm construction and power generation with a photovoltaic and battery system. Batteries are usually a necessary back-up power source to stabilise power grids that utilise renewable energy. The project aims to produce around 210GWh/yr from solar power with around 40MWh/yr from battery storage, according to EGPA, with an operational capacity of around 98MW for solar and 20MW for battery. The firms plan to start construction during the second half of 2024, before it starts commercial operations during the first half of 2026, according to an Inpex representative that spoke to Argus . The Japanese firm did not disclose the investment amount but the investment value for construction of the project is estimated at "over $190mn", according to EGPA's website. Inpex bought a 50pc stake in EGPA in July 2023, with an aim of expanding its renewable generation portfolio. The firm regards Australia as a "core area" for boosting its renewable energy business, according to Inpex. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Singapore to trial EV battery charging, swapping system
Singapore to trial EV battery charging, swapping system
Singapore, 11 June (Argus) — Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) has approved four "sandbox trials" for electric vehicle (EV) battery charging and swapping system, as Singapore mulls including these technologies in its EV charging standard. The four approvals — which are for heavy good EVs and mobile charging systems — were awarded to domestic firms Power-Up Tech, Beecharge Innovation, a consortium that includes Strides Frontiers and Ecoswift, as well as Singapore port authority PSA. The trials will go on for four years and they will "gradually commence" in the second half of 2024, said LTA on 11 June. "These trials will allow LTA to better understand the technical and operational requirements of such technologies and to consider incorporating them in upcoming Technical Reference 25 (TR25) reviews," said LTA. The country in 2022 updated its EV charging standard — also known as the TR25 — after a review, which included battery swapping standards for electric motorcycles among others. PSA will deploy one battery charging and swapping station within its Pasir Panjang port terminal for its electric heavy good vehicles, while the consortium will set up a station at Tuas. Power-Up Tech and Beecharge will provide mobile charging equipment for heavier EVs such as vans, trucks and buses. In mobile charging, equipment is transported to EVs that require immediate charging services. Singapore last year issued a tender to buy around 400 electric buses to replace its diesel buses starting from December, when they reach their end of life. It later announced that it will buy 360 units in two contracts for a total of S$166.4mn ($123mn). Top EV manufacturer BYD won the contract for 240 electric buses, with the contract for the remaining 120 units going to regional firm Cycle and Carriage Automotive. The country has introduced multiple incentives to accelerate its transition to "cleaner-energy vehicles", including its EV Early Adoption Incentives (EEAI), which has been extended to the end of 2025. Under EEAI, newly registered fully-electric cars and taxis will receive 45pc of rebate off their Additional Registration Fee, a registration tax, that will be capped at S$15,000. The nation state has a target of having 60,000 EV charging points by 2030, with 40,000 in public carparks and 20,000 in private premises, according to LTA. All new domestic harbour craft in Singapore must also be fully electric, capable of using B100 biofuels or net zero fuels such as hydrogen by 2030, said former transport minister S Iswaran last year. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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