Global lithium production totalled 100,000 tons (90.7 million kg) last year, while worldwide reserves stand at about 22 million tons (20 billion kg), according to the US Geological Survey. Dividing lithium production by the amount needed per battery shows that enough lithium was mined last year to make just under 11.4 million EV batteries.
The UK market, with 6.9 GWh of EV battery capacity produced, grew 14% compared to Q2 2023 and 50% compared to Q3 2022. The UK had 4% of the global EV battery market, up from 3% in Q3 2022. France was then the 5th largest EV battery producer in the world, with 4.6 GWh of battery capacity produced.
Using the same kind of calculation shows that global reserves are sufficient to produce just under 2.5 billion batteries. The IEA’s Net Zero by 2050 roadmap says the world will need 2 billion battery electric, plug‐in hybrid and fuel-cell electric light‐duty vehicles on the road by that date to hit net zero.
Dividing lithium production by the amount needed per battery shows that enough lithium was mined last year to make just under 11.4 million EV batteries. This is a level that annual electric vehicle purchases could hit soon, after first-quarter sales rose by 75% on the year to touch 2 million, according to IEA figures.
That gave the United States 15% of the global EV battery capacity market, one percentage point up from last year’s 14%. Germany was in a similar boat as the US in terms of growth, but less than half in terms of total capacity produced. Europe’s largest economy produced 11.5 GWh of EV batteries in Q3 2023, which was 6% of the market.
By Colin McKerracher, Head of Advanced Transport, BloombergNEF As the US ramps up its efforts to onshore the lithium-ion battery supply chain, an uncomfortable truth is emerging: The world is awash in battery manufacturing capacity, and it’s going to make life very difficult for new entrants.