This study compares the costs of manufacturing high-performance 18650-size lithium-ion cells in China and in the United States. The comparison reflects all costs of constructing and staffing a stand-alone.
Is advanced battery production cost-competitive?
A comparison of the costs of battery cell production in the United States and in China indicates that highly automated production processes can make U.S.-based advanced battery manufacturing cost-competitive with Chinese production, and suggests that large-scale production of advanced batteries may be economically feasible in the United States. 2.
What is the market for 18650 lithium ion battery cells?
The market for these cells is vast and growing; sales of 18650 lithium-ion battery cells – cylindrical cells 18 mm in diameter and 650 mm in length, and used for mobile computing and other consumer electronics applications – approached 10 billion units worldwide in 2010 .
How do economies of scale affect lithium-ion production?
To better quantify the impact of economies of scale, the author considered two sizes for plants producing the 18650 lithium-ion cell: a smaller plant that produces 35 million cells a year, and a larger facility that produces 350 million cells a year. The models also compare both manual and semi-automated Chinese plants with automated U.S. plants.