Battery Metals & the EV Revolution
Understand the minerals powering the electric vehicle revolution — lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and beyond. Covers battery chemistry, supply chains, recycling, and what the clean energy transition means for global mineral demand.
Metals U Education
Program Features
- Self-paced
- Online
- Interactive LMS Content
- Blockchain-based Certificate
Program Features
- Self-paced
- Online
- Interactive LMS Content
- Blockchain-based Certificate
Description
The Minerals Behind the Electric Vehicle Revolution
The electrification of transportation is one of the defining industrial shifts of our era — and it runs entirely on metals. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite are at the heart of every lithium-ion battery pack, and demand for these materials is forecast to grow by orders of magnitude over the coming decades.
This course provides a comprehensive overview of battery metals — from their geological origins and extraction, through refining and cell manufacturing, to recycling and second-life applications. Drawing on research from the IEA, U.S. Department of Energy, World Bank, and Argonne National Laboratory, students will develop a rigorous understanding of the mineral foundation of the EV revolution.
Who This Class Is For
- Automotive and energy industry professionals
- Battery technology engineers and researchers
- Investors and analysts in the EV and materials space
- Policy professionals focused on clean energy transition
Program Syllabus
Module 1: The Battery Metals Landscape
Overview of key battery chemistries: NMC, LFP, NCA, and emerging solid-state. Which minerals matter and why.
Module 2: Lithium — The White Gold
Brine vs hard rock lithium. Major producing regions. Processing and refining. Price volatility and market dynamics.
Module 3: Cobalt, Nickel & Manganese
DRC cobalt supply and ethical concerns. Nickel laterite and sulfide deposits. Manganese's growing role in lower-cobalt chemistries.
Module 4: Battery Cell Manufacturing & Supply Chains
From mining to gigafactory. Asia's manufacturing dominance. Localization efforts in the U.S. and EU.
Module 5: Recycling & the Battery Circular Economy
End-of-life battery streams. Hydrometallurgical and pyrometallurgical recycling. DOE ReCell Center research. EU Battery Regulation requirements.
Module 6: Demand Forecasting & Investment Outlook
IEA mineral demand scenarios. Critical materials assessment methodologies. Investment opportunities and risks across the battery value chain.