Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries: Relationships

Every element and industry that Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries is linked to, and how. Each pair has its own card explaining the relationships between the two.

Nickel: Nickel-rich cathodes are nickel's fastest-growing market, and the nickel feeding them increasingly comes from Indonesian laterites processed mostly in Chinese-owned plants. Growth depends on how much of the EV market stays with nickel cells rather than nickel-free LFP. (researched)
Electric and hybrid vehicles: 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)
Lithium iron phosphate batteries: LFP and NMC are the two main lithium-ion chemistries and compete for every EV and storage project: LFP is cheaper and longer lived, NMC stores more energy per kilogram. LFP passed half of EV batteries in 2024 and over 55% in 2025, while NMC holds premium cars and most markets outside China. (researched)
Vehicles, ships, rail, aircraft: Nickel-rich cells are the battery of choice for long-range and premium electric cars, and almost 80% of EV batteries outside China still used nickel chemistries in 2025, but cheaper LFP now takes over half of the world market, so carmakers' chemistry choices decide nickel and cobalt demand. (researched)
Aerospace and defence: Aerospace and defence depends on nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Aviation propulsion: Energy flows from nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries to aviation propulsion.
Battery cathode materials: Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries needs battery cathode materials.
Cobalt: Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries needs cobalt.
Computers and electronics: Computers and electronics depends on nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Demand response and vehicle-to-grid: Energy flows from nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries to demand response and vehicle-to-grid.
Energy in buildings: Energy flows from nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries to energy in buildings.
Graphite: Their prices have moved together.
Lithium: Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries needs lithium.
Manganese: Nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries needs manganese.
Media and entertainment: Media and entertainment depends on nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Medical devices: Medical devices depends on nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Regenerative braking and motion recovery: Energy flows from regenerative braking and motion recovery to nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Transformers and power electronics: Energy flows from transformers and power electronics to nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.
Waste and recycling: Waste and recycling depends on nickel-rich lithium-ion batteries.