# Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries

Higher-energy lithium-ion chemistries for EVs and electronics, plus fast-charging LTO.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/

Storage · Electrochemical · No. 69

- Storage
- Duration: Hours
 Storage · Electrochemical · Foundation · Energy

Long-range electric cars still run on nickel and cobalt, metals whose prices one African export ban sent soaring.

Chart: Illustration: Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Nickel-rich cathodes pack in more energy, with NMC cells reaching up to 265 Wh/kg against about 205 Wh/kg for LFP.

##### Three things to know

1. Cobalt makes up about 15% of the metal in NCA cathodes and about 10% in NMC811, the hottest ethical issue in batteries.
2. In 2025 an NMC pack cost about 58% more per kWh than an LFP pack, so grid buyers have largely switched away.
3. Its LTO cousin can recharge to about 80% in six minutes and survive 20,000 cycles, though it holds only about 96 Wh/kg.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Mines**Cobalt from Congo, nickel from Indonesia
2. 2 **Refining**China refines over three-quarters of cobalt
3. 3 **Cathode**Layered nickel manganese cobalt oxide
4. 4 **Cell**Lithium ions shuttle into graphite anode
5. 5 **Vehicle pack**Long-range cars, premium models, electronics
6. 6 **Recycling**Valuable cobalt and nickel recovered
 Covered in [Storing energy: from fuel stocks to batteriesEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/storing-energy/)

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## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and technology](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/sg-sci/index.md)
- [Engineering and performance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/sg-eng/index.md)
- [Economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/sg-econ/index.md)
- [Impact and additionality](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/sg-impact/index.md)
- [What to track](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/tracking/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_li_nmc/links/index.md)