ZEBRA Battery - Material Cost Availability and Recycling

The material for the cells of ZEBRA batteries (standard 21 kWh) is nickel, salt and boehmite. This material represents 28$/kWh of the final cell price, which is an indication of the low cost potential of 100$/kWh for the battery incl. Controller for large volume production. Worldwide nickel production is 1 million tonnes p.a. from resources of 200 million tonnes. The resources are based on nickel sulphides and nickel laterites and are spread over the globe in different political areas. A shortfall of nickel is unlikely and the battery related share of the demand in only 5% of the total annual production. The US company INMETCO (PA) has successfully recycled ZEBRA cells in 20 tonne loads to produce nickel containing remelt alloy which is used in the stainless steel industry. The slag resulting from this process is sold as a replacement for limestone and is used for road construction. The material value covers the battery recycling process cost and the transportation from a collection point to the recycling plant.