According to a comprehensive annual survey by BloombergNEF, battery pack prices have fallen a stunning 20% in 2024, marking the steepest decline since 2017.
Currently, 54% of the cell price comes from the cathode, 18% from the anode, and 28% from other components. The average price of lithium-ion battery cells dropped from $290 per kilowatt-hour in 2014 to $103 in 2023. In the coming months, prices are expected to drop further due to oversupply from China.
Since last summer, lithium battery cell pricing has plummeted by approximately 50%, according to Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL), the world's largest battery manufacturer. In early summer 2023, publicly available prices ranged from 0.8 to 0.9 RMB/Wh ($0.11 to $0.13 USD/Wh), or about $110 to 130/kWh.
How have lithium-ion battery prices changed over the last 10 years?
Lithium prices, for example, have plummeted nearly 90% since the late 2022 peak, leading to mine closures and impacting the price of lithium-ion batteries used in EVs. This graphic uses exclusive data from our partner Benchmark Mineral Intelligence to show the evolution of lithium-ion battery prices over the last 10 years.
Battery metal prices have struggled as a surge in new production overwhelmed demand, coinciding with a slowdown in electric vehicle adoption. Lithium prices, for example, have plummeted nearly 90% since the late 2022 peak, leading to mine closures and impacting the price of lithium-ion batteries used in EVs.
Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence Lithium prices fell after peaking at over $79,637 per ton in December 2022, driven by surging demand for EVs. Despite starting the year near record highs, prices dropped as overcapacity in battery production, particularly lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, began to impact the market.
Lithium Hydroxide: Typically sourced from lithium-rich salt lakes or brines, primarily used to produce lower-cost, lower-energy density lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Price: $10,550/ton.