Tesla released interesting and rare details about its approach to sourcing lithium, nickel, and cobalt directly from mines instead of through its cell suppliers. This approach is going to be critical as companies fight to secure those minerals for battery production to support electric vehicle growt Contact online >>
Tesla released interesting and rare details about its approach to sourcing lithium, nickel, and cobalt directly from mines instead of through its cell suppliers. This approach is going to be critical as companies fight to secure those minerals for battery production to support electric vehicle growth.
This approach enables Tesla to have direct relationships with miners of critical minerals and helps secure supply while allowing the company to monitor quality closely and ensure responsible environmental and social sourcing.
Tesla explained in its latest Impact Report:
While cobalt, nickel, and lithium go through multiple processing steps by different companies, some of the more important environmental and social risks in this supply chain are present at mine sites. Direct sourcing from mining companies allows Tesla to engage directly in local contexts instead of having to rely on multiple midstream companies that typically sit between EV makers and mining. It also enables more transparent and traceable supply chains and better environmental and social data.
Tesla even released some very rare and interesting details about the effort.
The automaker says that it had directly sourced over 95% of the lithium hydroxide, 50% of the cobalt, and more than 30% of the nickel used in its high-energy density cells (NCA and NCM) in 2021. The rest came from deals between the battery cell manufacturers and their own material suppliers.
As we previously reported, Tesla also released a list of the nine mining companies that are supplying those minerals.
Another, less discussed aspect of the company’s Impact Report is that it makes it clear how aware Tesla is that mining and its environmental and social impact are going to become more significant challenges for EV adoption in the future.
In response, Tesla has joined the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), and the company’s direct-sourcing approach also helps ensure the implementation of those standards.
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Tesla Confirms 50% of New Vehicles use Cobalt-Free LFP Batteries
Tesla just confirmed through an announcement that close to half of all its current vehicles being produced at all its giga factories are being produced with cobalt free iron phosphate, also known as LFP batteries.
When you hear information like this, you can draw some conclusions based on what you know about Tesla. For instance, Tesla''s vehicles that are RWD (rear wheel drive) or standard range are being produced with LFP batteries. One can infer that half of Tesla''s ordered models are RWD or standard range then.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has made it very clear that Tesla wants to move more and more of its cars to LFP batteries in order to circumnavigate the supply challenges with nickel and cobalt. This is a smart move and iron is an abundant mineral in the earth.
Another advantage of LFP batteries, besides not using scarce and supply chain constrained resources is that they are generally less expensive and more safe. The disadvantage is that these LFP batteries have less energy density, which means you won''t get as much performance or range. But for someone like me who wants a long lasting vehicle, I''m OK with this tradeoff.
Further Developments With LFP Batteries
Another advantage of making standard range vehicles with LFP batteries is that the rest of the resources needed for fast performing and long range vehicles become freed up for those vehicles where it makes sense to do so. In China, Tesla is producing the standard range Model 3 and Model Y with LFP battery cells, which will free up more scarce and supply chain constrained cobalt and nickel.
Tesla has made it clear that LFP batteries are important for the future of moving to sustainable energy and now that we have Tesla''s Q1, 2022 financial results, we got the confirmation that close to half of Tesla''s vehicles produced are using LFP batteries.
I''m looking forward to improvement in LFP battery range, if possible, but 272 miles of range on a Model 3 is fine by me. What do you think the range of LFP batteries will be in 5 years for a standard range Model 3?
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Jeremy Johnson is a Tesla investor and supporter. He first invested in Tesla in 2017 after years of following Elon Musk and admiring his work ethic and intelligence. Since then, he''s become a Tesla bull, covering anything about Tesla he can find, while also dabbling in other electric vehicle companies. Jeremy covers Tesla developments at Torque News. You can follow him on Twitter or LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his Tesla news coverage on Torque News.
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