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Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) is advancing in projects that intend to apply niobium in electric car batteries.
CBMM, headquartered in Araxá, Minas Gerais, is responsible for 80% of the global production of niobium derived from pyrochlore. The use of niobium in lithium cells from electric car batteries it should allow an ultra-fast recharge, decreasing the charging time. The expectation is that, by 2030, electric cars can be recharged at the same speed as a gas tank is full at a gas station.
Niobium is known to make alloys lighter and more resistant, being applied basically in the steel industry. Considering the growing demand for electric cars due to increasingly stringent environmental laws, CBMM expects the first cars with more efficient batteries and ultra-fast charging to be on the streets later this decade.
According to Paulo Haddad, CBMM's Market Development manager, the innovation will increase battery safety and allow it to be recharged with much greater power than currently available.
“We are talking about 10 minutes for a full battery recharge”, stated Érico França, Market Development analyst at CBMM, in an exclusive interview to Autotempo. Currently, luxury brands such as Audi, Mercedes and Porsche are not as efficient in battery charging. However, the Xpeng G9 vehicle, sold in China for around BRL 230, promises the fastest recharge in the world, up to 80% of the battery in 15 minutes in a special 480 kW wallbox.
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The research developed by CBMM is extremely relevant, since there are currently only 85 niobium extraction points mapped, and the CBMM mine is responsible for 80% of the global production of pyrochlore derived from the metal. The company exports niobium to more than 50 countries, with China, the world's largest electric car manufacturer, being its biggest customer.
CBMM's projects represent 5% to 10% of the company's revenues, but this share is expected to reach 20% to 30% by 2030
According to Haddad, "we are sure that, soon, the application of niobium in the batteries of electric cars of automakers will be a reality". A next step of the CBMM tests will be the application of niobium in the batteries of the first hybrid racing truck in the world, the Meteor Mission Zero, which will participate in the Interlagos stage of the Copa Truck on April 30th.
In partnership with Giaffone Electric and Volkswagen Caminh ões e Ônibus, the vehicle is being monitored for the reduction of pollutant emissions and battery efficiency. “Niobium is already present in truck parts and components, such as battery protection and cockpit cage tubes. The next step will be for it to run with niobium lithium battery”, revealed France.
The application of niobium in electric car batteries it will allow for a more sustainable path for electric mobility, since in addition to faster and safer battery charging, the durability time will be increased, avoiding massive disposal that is harmful to the environment.
