新闻来源：www.bloomberg.com
原文地址：EV Batteries With Nickel Get Boost in China After Prices Retreat
新闻日期：2024-09-18
近年来，中国汽车市场开始对镍电池重新加以关注。为了降低成本和减少供应风险，电池和汽车制造商已转向含镍量较少但仍保持高能量密度和长行驶里程的新型镍电池。
世界最大的电池生产商之一正在提供名为“中镍高压”的新型电池。由于技术改进和价格大幅下跌，这些新型电池的成本有所降低。中国汽车制造商如比亚迪、特斯拉中国以及浙江吉利控股旗下的极氪已开始使用这种电池，而韩国的LG新能源预计将于明年开始生产。
中国EV和电池巨头过去一直引领着电池化学成分的变化，在商品市场或驾驶需求发生变化时能够迅速作出反应。在过去，由于镍和钴价格高企及供应担忧，市场转向了LFP（磷酸铁锂电池）。但自那以后，金属价格已经大幅下跌。LG新能源表示，这种新型电池可以降低约10%的成本，并且具有更高的能密度和热稳定性。
过去人们认为，中镍阳极将在未来几年内被完全取代。但现在由于钴价的下降以及高镍的安全性问题，这一转变已明显放缓。CRU数据显示，中国的中镍NMC（镍锰钴）电池生产份额已从2023年初的约40%上升至近60%。
目前，这种新型电池主要应用于中国国内市场的中、高级车型；而我们也能看到其在海外市场的需求正在增长。“短期内，这些电池可能无法完全取代LFP”，SMH的高级咨询项目经理詹瑞德·祖表示：“但它们确实可以与LFP竞争，并将继续存在。”
过去，中镍电池仅能在较低电压下运行。但现在，一些技术改进使这类电池可以在更高电压下更安全、更可持续地运行。
镍价目前约为每吨1.6万美元，而钴和其他金属价格也有所下跌。随着整体电池成本的降低，这种新型电池开始受到更多关注。
原文摘要：
China’s electric-vehicle market is offering a tentative challenge to the shift toward batteries with no nickel or cobalt.For years, battery and auto manufacturers have moved away from nickel-bearing batteries to cut costs and reduce supply risks. But there’s now growing interest in a type of nickel battery that’s cheaper because it contains a bit less of the metal, while still retaining a high energy density and driving range., the world’s top battery maker, is among producers supplying what’s known as “medium-nickel, high—voltage” batteries. Technological tweaks, a dramatic price slump for battery materials, and shifting consumer preferences have all encouraged the format.“It seems to be a strategic play to keep NMC alive for longer and offer a differentiated product for both the domestic and export markets,” said Aaron Wade, head of battery costs at CRU Group. NMC stands for nickel-manganese-cobalt, the main type of nickel-bearing cell.Chinese carmakers including , and the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co.-backed Zeekr are already using the medium-nickel, high voltage batteries, according to Shanghai Metals Market, while South Korea’s is expecting to start production next year. , a major supplier of battery materials, said their adoption could be an “important force” for the EV sector as drivers seek longer driving range.China’s EV and battery giants have typically spearheaded changes in the mix of battery chemistries, reacting swiftly to changes in commodity markets or driver requirements. An earlier era of sky-high nickel and cobalt prices — along with fears of shortages — drove the move toward LFP, which stands for lithium-iron-phosphate, and away from NCM. But since then, prices for the metals have collapsed. LG Energy, the South Korean battery maker, said batteries could bring down costs by 10%, with enhanced energy density and thermal stability.“A few years ago, it was the expectation that mid-nickel cathodes would be all but replaced in the coming years,” said Iola Hughes, head of research at consultancy Rho Motion. “Now the low cobalt price and safety concerns with high-nickel have slowed this transition dramatically.”The medium-nickel share of NMC production in China has surged to nearly 60%, from around 40% in early 2023, according to CRU. Analysts say that’s helping at least to slow the march of LFP, and throwing some uncertainty into how battery technology will evolve.“For now, the mid-nickel, high voltage batteries are used mainly in the Chinese domestic market in middle and high-end models,” said Jared Zhu, senior consulting project manager at SMM. “We can see the increasing trend in the ex-China market as well,” he said, adding that the cells “can compete with the LFP battery, to some extent.”Historically, mid-nickel chemistry could only operate at lower voltage levels relative to high nickel. But a number of technical changes have enabled this type of battery to operate more safely and sustainably at higher voltages.Nickel prices are languishing at relatively low levels near $16,000 a ton amid a supply glut , while has fallen to the least in almost eight years and is hovering around the lowest level since 2021. That means overall battery costs are much cheaper, but in a fiercely competitive market, carmakers still need to adjust for cost and performance.“In the long term, as downstream applications seek a balance between high-energy density and cost-effectiveness, the two routes of LFP batteries and ternary material batteries will co-exist and develop together,” CNGR said in a statement with its first-half earnings., China’s most valuable mining company, says it won’t be deterred by the Canadian government’s measures to limit foreign involvement in its mining sector. economic officials will meet for discussions in Beijing this week as the Biden administration seeks to — once again — make its case for Beijing to avoid roiling the rest of the world with an industrial policy that’s stoked manufacturing exports. announced it will inject one-year liquidity to domestic lenders on Sept. 25, marking another delay amid a broad overhaul of its policy toolkit.Wednesday, Sept. 18Thursday, Sept. 19Friday, Sept. 20
