ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET

INTRODUCTION

Graphite is a naturally occurring crystallized carbon compound. It is indeed a naturally occurring mineral in metamorphic and igneous rocks as an indigenous constituent. Graphite is an extreme mineral. It is exceedingly soft, dissociates relatively minimal pressure, and has a very low specific gravity.

It, on the other hand, is exceedingly stable at high temperatures and then almost innocuous when in contact with almost any other substance. Because of its exceptional qualities, it has a wide variety of applications in metallurgical and industry.

Graphite is a mineral that forms whenever carbon is heated and compressed in the Earth's crust and upper mantle. The demand for essential minerals used in batteries, such as graphite, is increasing as the electric car transition accelerates.

The anode which is the negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries that power EVs is mainly composed of 95 percent purified graphite, while the cathode (positive electrode) is mainly composed of diverse materials also including cobalt and nickel.

Although different materials possess drawbacks that preclude them from being used in batteries, graphite has always been and will remain the material of choice for the next decade or two.

Silicone, for instance, is excellent for transporting energy, but it expands and shrinks when charging and discharging, reducing the availability for battery packs. Graphite can indeed be natural or synthetic, with natural being the preferable option.

Natural graphite is nonetheless less expensive, but it is much more environmentally beneficial, as synthesized graphite is manufactured from petroleum coke and is a refined oil product.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET DEVELOPMENTS AND INNOVATIONS

ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET DYNAMICS

Controlling graphite is critical since we are in the midst of an energy revolution yet are completely dependent on China for something like the resources.

China is at least a decade ahead of the West in terms of battery production capabilities, and it is assumed that they will wish to preserve many of the ingredients for themself.  For secure raw material, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and manufacturers must develop a supply chain.

It is another issue to construct the batteries manufacturing; it is quite another to go farther upstream and get supply-critical components such as graphite. Graphite resources may be found all over the world, including Asia, Africa, and North America.

However, graphite is not suited for battery packs that are fresh from the soil. China produces 100% of the globe's processing graphite, indicating a serious distribution network concern. The effective supply chain difficulty is that there are currently no facilities for processing graphite outside of China.

Car customers are transitioning to EVs as distance anxiety diminishes and more charging stations appear, while multiple government incentives have assisted to carry relatively expensive EVs.

This really is especially true in Norway; wherein federal subsidies have culminated in EVs outselling combustion engines. Many countries throughout the globe are passing legislation that will eventually lead to the end of internal combustion engines.

Automobile manufacturers are increasingly phasing out gas and diesel-powered automobiles in favour of all-electric automobiles. The typical Electric Vehicle contains up to 100+ kilos of graphite.

Graphite consumers, whether within China or outside, are fighting over a limited stock of material.The global demand for battery anodes will grow  over the next decade, driven by the lithium-ion sector.

Anode-grade graphite flake prices on the Chinese domestic market are up almost 4,500 yuan ($707) per tonne.

Graphite anode materials will be supplied by Syrah Resources Ltd. from its Louisiana factory to electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla under a four-year agreement. The agreement with Tesla, the most valuable automaker in the world, comes as automakers across the world compete for supplies of parts needed to build electric vehicles.

The majority of the graphite production anticipated from the proposed increase in capacity at the Syrah facility in Vidalia will be purchased by Tesla, with an option to acquire more.

The goal of Urbix is to supply the battery anode material for the electric vehicles in Europe and North America. The company is constantly improving its graphite processing capabilities. The US is on schedule to begin full-scale production, and additional locations will follow.

With this technology, Urbix asserts itself as an environmentally responsible supplier to the automobile industry, doing away with the requirement for hydrofluoric acid and conventional thermal treatments.

In order to meet the need for coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG), its small, modular facilities are simple to set up. Its techniques result in lower prices, less energy use, and shorter time requirements.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET SEGMENTATION

The Global Electric Vehicle Graphite Market can be segmented into following categories for further analysis.

Electric Vehicle Graphite MarketBy Application

• Entry Level Vehicles
• Mid-Level Vehicles
• Luxury Class Vehicles

Electric Vehicle Graphite Market By Product Type

• Natural Graphite
• Synthetic Graphite
• Hybrid Graphite

Electric Vehicle Graphite Market By Technology Focus Type

• Electrodes
• Battery packs
• Casting – Exterior and Interior Parts
• Lubricants

Electric Vehicle Graphite Market By Architecture Type

• Hybrid Propulsion Vehicle
• BEV
• PHEV

Electric Vehicle Graphite Market By Regional Classification

• Asia Pacific Region - APAC
• Middle East and Gulf Region
• Africa Region
• North America Region
• Europe Region
• Latin America and Caribbean Region

RECENT TECHNOLOGICAL TRENDS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET

Graphite has numerous applications in industries, including lubricants, carbon brushes for electric motors, fire retardants, and steel production, to mention only a few.

Its use in the lithium-ion battery business is increasing at a rate of more than 20% each year due to the proliferation of mobile phones, cameras, laptop computers, power drills, and other hand - held devices.

Although graphite has generally been used in the automotive industry manufacturing brake linings, gaskets, and clutch materials, its application in electric vehicle (EV) batteries is becoming increasingly important.

There seem to be no replacements for graphite as the anode material in the battery. Especially subsequently, the rise of hybrid and all-electric cars, along with energy storage, has aided in the continuation of robust economic growth.

In terms of effectiveness, EV manufacturers favour synthesized graphite, claiming its better quick charge turnaround and battery lifetime. EV manufacturers are aiming for a 10-year battery lifespan, with synthetic graphite being more adapted to this.

The produced form of synthetic graphite also offers the materials an advantage when it comes to supply quality consistency when compared with untreated graphite.

Artificial graphite production has a number of problems, including the fact that it is an expensive, energy-intensive, and ecologically unfavourable technology.

Instinctual graphite has a cost benefit over synthetic graphite, with natural graphite costing around half as much as synthetic graphite.

The greater usage of silicon in anodes is still in its early stages, but if this technology becomes more extensively accepted inside the future, pure graphite outperforms silicon.

CATL is studying using the natural form of graphite in battery anodes as an alternative to artificial graphite because of greater availability

Though electric vehicles typically dominate the headlines in the alternative fuel market, automakers are also looking to hydrogen. General Motors a New York based company dealing in EV , already has a number of electric cars, but that hasn’t stopped it from looking for alternatives like Hydrogen.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Manufacturers are presently employing machining centres built for heavy-duty processing of big engines. Aside from the economic issue, synthetic graphite supply is based in China, which contradicts the goal of North American and European manufacturers for more localised supply.

The potential of graphite production to increase in tandem with demand in the next years will also assist to make pricing less volatile than in other battery raw material markets and, in the long run, will shield the sector against displacement by alternative anode innovations.

Asbury Carbons is one of the developing entities focused on producing varied graphite forms to help in better integration of the graphite composition as required into the batteries and other components of the electric vehicles.

It has been producing various forms which includes Natural Flake Graphite, Natural Amorphous Graphite, and various other synthetic forms. Flake graphite's strong electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as its moderate spring-back qualities, make it the perfect for moulding, friction, and conductive applications.

This is also a great choice for powder metallurgy, batteries, and fuel cells. This Pure Flake is a commercial grade flake graphite with a purity of 80-99.9% carbon with diameters ranging from almost 1um to 800um. Amorphous graphite also thrives in applications requiring low carbon content as well as high thermal stability.

In mechanical seal operations, properly sized amorphous graphite powder is also employed to provide the appropriate balance of lubrication and moderate abrasion. Contaminants such as most metal oxides are vaporised throughout this man-made graphite, which is produced at ultra-high pressures.

Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. is a key player in Canada’s resource and mineral industry. It is a major producer of coal and zinc, two resources with distinctly different futures.Though the region has the huge potential for extraction of graphite in raw form.

SGL Carbon is also a considerable competitor in the market focusing on the graphite market of automotive applications. The Sigracell GFG expanded graphite powder is a high-performance battery additive that may be employed in a variety of lithium-ion batteries.

The carbon-silicon composite anode material combines precisely engineered silicon-based components alongside highly optimised high-performance graphite anode materials to expand anode capacities exceeding graphite's practical maximums.

The charcoal arrangement provides an appealing electrochemical performance profile, including excellent specific capacitance, ease of processing, and increased cycle life.

Particularly contrasted to sustainable resources that meet the requirement for highly energetic operations, the usage of silicon inside the anode results in higher gravimetric and volumetric energy density and quick charging capabilities for potential clients.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE GRAPHITE MARKET COMPANIES PROFILED

• Graphex Group
• Black Earth Minerals
• Asbury Carbons
• BTR New Material Group Co Limited
• Nippon Kokuen Group
• SGL Carbon
• Shanshan Technology
• Hitachi Chemical Co Limited
• Next Source Materials Inc.
• Mason Graphite Inc.
• Qingdao Black Dragon Graphite Co Limited