Lithium batteries - $450 kWh
Posted by Max Dunn Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:43:00 GMT
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery prices are dropping rapidly and automakers are already seeing quotes of $450 per kWh for next year.
This is a huge drop from the historical price of $1,000 per kWh and even better than this year’s price of $650 per kWh.
In addition, this new report by Deutsche Bank not only predicts that performance of Li-ion batteries will double in the next 7 years, they also predict the price will decline by another 50% in the next 10 years.
At $450 kWh, the 16kWh battery in the Chevy Volt would add only an additional $7,200 to the price of the car which will pay for itself in the gas savings after 90,000 miles – or sooner if gas rises above $3 per gallon.
(Source: GM-Volt.com. Report Reveals Lithium-ion Battery Prices Already Dropping Steeper Than Expected.)
Here are some more data points for battery cost.
Elite Power Solutions offers Li-Ion batteries for $517/kWh including balancers. (This is a 100AH, 12V pack for $620).
It has been reported that the Nissan Leaf battery may cost only $375/kWh to produce. However, another report estimated that it may be twice that amount.
In any event, I think it is fair to use an estimate of $500/kWh for li-ion battery prices today.