Batteries have become essential for modern life. While near-term demand may fluctuate with the economic cycle, the long-run picture is one of ongoing growth. So the need for the raw materials used to manufacture batteries is likely to be strong too.
The world’s first operable battery has been attributed to the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta just over 220 years ago. In 1985 a prototype appeared for the lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery used in portable consumer electronics and electric vehicles (EVs); 1997 saw the release of the lithium polymer (LiPo) battery that can be shaped to fit devices such as mobile phones and drones.
While Li-ion batteries dominate today’s rechargeable battery zone, advanced new products are still being developed, says financial research group S&P Global. Furthermore, “a wave of improvements... will eventually be adopted in most major end markets”. These enhancements include improved energy density (more energy stored per volume or weight), longer lifetimes, better safety and less charge
