Electric and hybrid vehicles: Relationships

Every element and industry that Electric and hybrid vehicles is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries: LFP became the most used EV battery chemistry in 2025 because it is the cheapest per kWh, which is what makes low-priced electric cars possible. Almost all of it is made in China, so EV growth in other countries leans on Chinese cells and cathodes. (researched)
Nickel: Long-range electric cars mostly run on nickel-rich NMC and NCA batteries, but iron phosphate (LFP) cells made up over 55% of EV batteries worldwide in 2025, so EV growth no longer translates one for one into nickel demand. Stainless steel, not cars, still takes most of the world's nickel. (researched)
Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries: Nickel-rich NMC cells store more energy per kilogram, so they remain the choice for long-range and premium EVs, especially outside China. They cost more per kWh than LFP, and their global share is shrinking as cheaper models switch chemistry. (researched)
Copper: A battery electric car was estimated to use about 83 kg of copper against about 23 kg in a petrol or diesel car (ICA estimate, 2017), in motor windings, battery connections, high-voltage wiring and charging, so each switch to a battery car adds about 60 kg of copper demand. (researched)
Demand response and vehicle-to-grid: Energy flows from demand response and vehicle-to-grid to electric and hybrid vehicles; energy flows from electric and hybrid vehicles to demand response and vehicle-to-grid.
Autocatalysts: Their prices have moved together.
Cobalt: Electric and hybrid vehicles needs cobalt.
Distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors: Energy flows from distribution grids, mini-grids and interconnectors to electric and hybrid vehicles.
E-commerce and digital marketplaces: E-commerce and digital marketplaces depends on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Electric motors and drives: Energy flows from electric motors and drives to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Fuel cells: Energy flows from fuel cells to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Graphite: Electric and hybrid vehicles needs graphite.
High-temperature batteries: Energy flows from high-temperature batteries to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers: Energy flows from hydrogen and hydrogen carriers to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Lead-acid batteries: Energy flows from lead-acid batteries to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Lithium: Electric and hybrid vehicles needs lithium.
Next-generation lithium batteries: Energy flows from next-generation lithium batteries to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Nickel-based batteries: Energy flows from nickel-based batteries to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Railway electrification and wireless power: Energy flows from railway electrification and wireless power to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Regenerative braking and motion recovery: Energy flows from electric and hybrid vehicles to regenerative braking and motion recovery.
Sodium-ion batteries: Energy flows from sodium-ion batteries to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Transformers and power electronics: Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Transport and logistics: Transport and logistics depends on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft: Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft depends on electric and hybrid vehicles.
Waste and recycling: Waste and recycling depends on electric and hybrid vehicles.