American Manganese estimates EV battery metal values

Jan 19, 2017

RE-CYCLING SPENT ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES POTENTIALLY RECOVERS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF LITHIUM, COBALT AND OTHER CATHODE METALS

American Manganese Inc., having successfully completed proof-of-concept testing and filing of the U.S. provisional patent application, is presently studying potential downstream benefits to guide the company’s next phase of work. The company has successfully recycled lithium-cobalt cathode material, and is working with Kemetco Research Inc. to complete recycling bench tests on nickel, aluminum and manganese cathode chemistries and cobalt ores. Work to date suggests high recovery rates of materials at industry-standard purity levels, ready for reuse.

At current metal prices, the gross contained metal value of the cathode materials in a typical 85-kilowatt-hour electric vehicle (EV) battery pack, weighing about 500 kilograms, for the most popular battery chemistries is estimated in the attached table.

  Battery Chemistry            Lithium     Cobalt      Nickel ManganeseAluminumTotal    
Price ($/kg)                 *     $42.29$35.02      $10.14 $1.98    $1.80            
                                                                                      
Lithium Cobalt (LCO)         11.0 kg          93.7 kg                                 
Est. Value                   $465.00     $3,280.00                           $3,745.00
                                                                                      
Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC)9.7 kg      27.5 kg     27.4 kg25.6 kg                   
Est. Value                   $410.00     $963.00     $278.00$51.00           $1,702.00
                                                                                      
Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) 8.5 kg      10.9 kg     57.7 kg         1.7 kg           
Est. Value                   $360.00     $382.00     $585.00         $3.00   $1,327.00


   
  
   * Converted from carbonate to metal

Prices for Nickel and Aluminum are sourced at Kitco.com; for Electrolytic Manganese dioxide at USGS; for Lithium sourced from the Outsiders Club; and for Cobalt from Infomine.com

Mr. Reaugh says, “The amounts of metals contained in the cathode materials of a single spent EV battery is significant, and encourages the Company to aggressively pursue its spent electric vehicle recycling research program. As the EV market expands and drives material demand, this could be a major secure supply source for these strategic metals.”

He goes on to say: “Not included in these values is a hazardous waste ‘tipping fee’ paid to the recycler, typically in the order of about $6.60/kg of battery which equates to $3,300/battery. Moreover, with additional research it may be possible to directly produce LCO, NMC or NCA powders suitable for heat treating to make cathode material. Such a synergistic product – turning recovered metals into an advanced material — would likely have a selling price higher than the value of the contained metals.”

We caution readers that the above values are estimated gross amounts for the contained cathode material which do not factor in recoveries or operational costs as no studies have been completed on either.

About American Manganese Inc.

American Manganese Inc. is a diversified specialty and critical metal company focused on capitalizing on its patented intellectual property through low cost production or recovery of electrolytic manganese products throughout the world, and recycling of spent electric vehicle lithium ion rechargeable batteries. Interest in the Company’s patented process has adjusted the focus of American Manganese Inc. toward the examination of applying its patented technology for other purposes and materials. American Manganese Inc. aims to capitalize on its patented technology and proprietary know-how to become and industry leader in the recycling of spent electric vehicle lithium ion batteries having cathode chemistries such as: Lithium-Cobalt, Lithium-Cobalt-Nickel-Manganese, and Lithium-Manganese (Please see the Company’s March 31, 2016 press release for further details).

http://www.americanmanganeseinc.com/news-publications/press-releases/