Usually, manganese is used in combination with lithium in a range of batteries such as lithium manganese oxide (LMO) batteries, lithium iron manganese phosphate batteries (LiFeMnPO4) and lithium manganese spinels, which is a cathode. Nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries are also popular at the moment.
It is a cathode material in EVs, designed to increase their safety aspect, energy density and cost effectiveness. An average EV battery consists of about 20 kgs of manganese, as well as 14 kgs of cobalt. Manganese is cheaper to mine than lithium and there is much more of it available.
Manganese batteries have been attracting attention recently as potential alternatives to lithium batteries. Usually, cobalt, nickel and lithium are the most in-demand metals for EV batteries but manganese is also useful. It is a cathode material in EVs, designed to increase their safety aspect, energy density and cost effectiveness.
Tesla and Volkswagen are two of the most prominent companies exploring the use of manganese batteries at the moment, with Elon Musk recently having gone on record to say that manganese batteries have "potential" to drive the global transition.
Martin Kepman, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Canadian manganese mining company Manganese X Energy Corp, said in an interview: "Manganese is a candidate for disruption in the lithium-ion battery space. It has elemental qualities that have the potential to improve density, capacity, rechargeability, safety and battery longevity.
The incorporation of manganese contributes to the thermal stability of NMC batteries, reducing the risk of overheating during charging and discharging. NMC chemistry allows for variations in the nickel, manganese, and cobalt ratios, providing flexibility to tailor battery characteristics based on specific application requirements.