I asked ChatGPT what would be the impact to the silver market if most new EVs, mobile phones, drones and other devices started using solid-state batteries with Silver-Carbon composite anodes. The short answer is silver shortages and increased silver prices.
If all new electric vehicles (EVs), mobile phones, drones, and other devices adopted solid-state batteries featuring silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite anodes, the additional silver demand would be substantial—potentially exceeding current global production levels.
Electric Vehicles (EVs)
- Silver Usage per EV: Approximately 1 kilogram of silver is required per EV battery pack utilizing Ag-C composite anodes. Edge-Forex
- Global EV Production: Assuming 20% of the annual global vehicle production (about 80 million vehicles) transitions to this technology, that equates to 16 million EVs.Newstarget.com+3Xe+3Golden State Mint+3
- Total Silver Demand: 16 million EVs × 1 kg silver per EV = 16,000 metric tons of silver annually.Discern Report+5Finshots+5silverseek.com+5
- Impact on Global Supply: This demand represents approximately 64% of the current global silver production, which stands at around 25,000 metric tons per year. Medium+6New Energy Report Com+6Discern Report+6
Mobile Phones
- Estimated Silver Usage: If each smartphone requires about 0.5 grams of silver for its battery:
- Annual Production: With roughly 1.5 billion smartphones produced annually:
- Total Silver Demand: 1.5 billion × 0.5 grams = 750 metric tons of silver per year.
Drones and Other Devices
- Estimated Silver Usage: Assuming each drone or similar device uses about 1 gram of silver:
- Annual Production: With an estimated 100 million units produced annually:
- Total Silver Demand: 100 million × 1 gram = 100 metric tons of silver per year.
Cumulative Impact
Combining the above estimates:
- EVs: 16,000 metric tons
- Smartphones: 750 metric tonsMedium+2Edge-Forex+2Xe+2
- Drones and Other Devices: 100 metric tons
- Total Additional Demand: Approximately 16,850 metric tons of silver annually.
This cumulative demand would account for over 67% of the current global silver production, indicating a significant strain on supply.Physics News+6Edge-Forex+6New Energy Report Com+6
Considerations
- Supply Constraints: The silver market is already experiencing tight supply due to demand from sectors like solar energy. Discern Report+5Edge-Forex+5Medium+5
- Scalability: The feasibility of scaling up silver production to meet this additional demand is uncertain and could lead to increased prices.
- Alternative Materials: Research into alternative materials or recycling methods may become necessary to mitigate potential shortages.
