Pouch batteries to dominate EV market in 2025
According to EV Volumes
Up to 45% of batteries used for electric vehicles (EV) will be pouch-type batteries in 2025, according to market research firm EV Volumes.
The global EV battery market will use 1,000GWh of batteries in 2025, and 450GWh of them will be pouch-type, the firm said.
Tesla currently uses cylinder batteries and the market will likely become a duopoly of the two types.
South Korean battery makers LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation manufacturers pouch-type batteries. Samsung SDI produces mostly prismatic batteries.
Pouch batteries wraps the anode, cathode, separator and electrolyte in a pouch film. Prismatic puts the materials into a can.
According to EV Volumes, out of the top 20 best selling EV models (both pure EV and hybrids) of 2020, 14 used pouch-type batteries. All car models in the top ten, except Tesla’s Model 3 which ranked second, used pouch-type batteries.
This includes, in order of ranking, Renault Zoe, Volkswagen ID.3, Hyundai Kona EV, Audti e-Tron, Volkswagen e-Golf, Nissan Leaf, Peogeot e-208, Kia Niro EV and Mercedes-Benz A250e.
Prismatic batteries were mostly used for plug-in hybrid vehicles. It was used for Volkswagen Passat GTE, BMW 330e and Fold Kuga PHEV. BMW i3 was the only pure EV that used prismatic batteries.
Pouch-type batteries allowed for flexible deign of the battery pack, which makes it advantageous to use in EV models designed in combustion engine platforms.