Large lithium battery plants to dominate capacity

The largest five lithium-ion battery cell factories in development account for most global planned capacity, indicating a highly concentrated industry.

More than 180 GWh/yr in new capacity for the production of lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) will become operational by 2021, taking estimated global capacity to over 350 GWh/yr.

The largest 10 planned lithium-ion battery cell factories will be able to produce 397 GWh/yr between them when complete, accounting for around three-quarters of global capacity growth and roughly doubling total estimated capacity.

Of the largest 10 plants in development, four will be completed by 2021, with another ready by 2023. The remaining five have yet to confirm their completion dates.

The majority of capacity is expected to remain in China — which hosts 70pc of global capacity. Of the largest 10 planned factories, two will be built by Chinese carmaker BYD and two by Chinese battery manufacturer CATL. The companies account for more than a quarter of global capacity expansion announced so far.

But China will be challenged — three of the largest 10 plants in the pipeline will be in Europe. LG Chem's plant in Wroclaw, Poland, will be expanded to 70 GWh/yr from 10 GWh/yr by 2021, making it the world's largest battery cell plant. And Northvolt will build a 32 GWh/yr plant in Sweden by 2023. Northvolt is involved in partnerships with BMW and Scania, among others. Germany has sustained efforts to encourage lithium battery manufacture, and multinational consortium Listrom is planning a 30 GWh/yr plant in the state of North Rhine Westphalia.

The Polish, German and Swedish plants will all have more capacity than BYD's facility in Qinghai, China, which is currently the world's largest.