The steady rise of electric vehicles (EVs) in key markets around the world is creating opportunities for lubricant marketers. While engine oil demand is expected to decline over the next few years, the need for transmission fluids, coolants and greases for EVs is projected to increase.
To make products that deliver the performance required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), lubricant industry players must understand the unique needs of today’s EV batteries as well as how battery technology may evolve in coming years. To provide some insight into the topic, Lubes’n’Greases enlisted the help of Woldemar d’Ambrières, global market manager, batteries, for specialty materials company Arkema.
Woldemar d’Ambrières joined Arkema’s Battery team in March 2024. His primary responsibility is to help define and market Arkema’s entire portfolio of solutions for EV and ESS batteries, both inside and outside the cell. He joins Arkema from Veloia Korea in Seoul, South Korea, where he most recently led that company’s plastic and organic recycling initiatives.
Lubes’n’Greases: How have EV batteries evolved over the past few years? How do cooling fluids need to evolve to keep up?
D’Ambrières: One of the leading improvements comes in the form of faster charging. However, faster charging creates tremendous pressure on the thermal management system, which is why the coolant is so important. Current coolants based on water glycol, used in indirect cooling (cold plate), have improved insulation properties to avoid short circuit risk in case of leakage that could lead to a battery fire.
Immersion cooling is gaining traction due to its exceptional thermal performance, which helps improve fast charging development. A coolant is used in direct contact with the electrochemical cells. To work, it must have insulation properties, which are obtained by using, notably, hydrocarbons. The main drawback concerning these next generation coolants is their flammability. Arkema has developed new technology, FORANEXT gas thermal barrier additives, that help prevent flammability, leading to a safer battery.
Lubes’n’Greases: Most, if not all, EV batteries use lithium. Is lithium in danger of running low as EVs gain in popularity? What other applications might EV batteries be competing against for lithium supply?
D’Ambrières: The short answer is, not anytime soon. The global lithium supply is not endless, and demand is expected to grow in the coming years, but lithium is an abundant material and there are deposits worldwide that companies have yet to tap into. Furthermore, the development of EV recycling will bring additional local lithium sources for cell manufacturers to tap into.
Arkema supports battery recycling through its ALBONE hydrogen peroxide business, allowing users to increase the yield of the process, allowing for better metal recovery.
At the same time, battery manufacturers, especially larger ones, have already started exploring other technologies, such as sodium ion batteries, to provide an alternative to lithium chemistries. Arkema took a stake in Tiamat, a start-up developing Na-ion cells for EV and other applications, to help the ecosystem develop the right material solutions to scale up this type of technology.
Lubes’n’Greases: Can EV batteries be effectively recycled? If so, how? If not, why?
D’Ambrières: Yes, the materials used in EV batteries—including metals like lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese—can be recycled.
While there are multiple methods, the most accepted—and the one Arkema supports most often—is hydrometallurgical recycling due to the better environmental point of view and clear advantages in terms of low energy consumption, high metal recovery rate and high product purity. In the wet hydrometallurgy process, hydrogen peroxide acts as a reducing agent in the leaching process, in combination with acids, mainly sulfuric acid. Using hydrogen peroxide in the leaching process allows optimized leaching efficiency and reduced reaction time. As said earlier, Arkema offers ALBONE hydrogen peroxide specifically for recyclability in EV batteries.
Lubes’n’Greases: What changes might be in store for EV batteries in the next few years?
D’Ambrières: Currently, there are many emerging technologies in the EV and ESS battery industries, including solid state, semi-solid state, sodium ion and more. It would be very difficult to predict which of these solutions will end up as the most economically viable.
Arkema is investing across the range to offer inside-the-cell solutions such as anode and cathode binders to outside-the-cell materials such as intumescent powder coatings and advanced adhesives products.
We estimate that current technologies will still represent about 90% of total demand in 2030, but next-generation technologies could ramp-up significantly in the next decade.
Lubes’n’Greases: What dangers are there associated with lithium batteries, and how are these being mitigated?
D’Ambrières: Safety is probably the predominant concern and still provides hurdles that must be overcome. Thermal runaway, electrical exposure and improper disposal are just a few of those challenges.
Arkema offers advancements in all of these areas, with advanced binder materials, separator coating solutions, thermal interface materials and more, to eliminate thermal runaway, specialized coatings to prevent exposure, etc.
As an example of new solutions to increase the safety level of the batteries as well as their performance, Arkema recently took a majority stake in Proionic, producing ionic liquids. These key components in the formulation of electrolytes for the next generation of solid batteries are combining electrical conductivity and non-flammability and can be used, in gel form, to make flexible batteries.
Sydney Moore is managing editor of Lubes’n’Greases magazine. Contact her at Sydney@LubesnGreases.com