An electric car being charged on a city street, with the charging cable connected to the car's port and blurred buildings in the background.
AUTOMOTIVE & EV

Enabling the cars we drive to be safer, cleaner, lighter, more efficient and more sustainable.

The urgent need for a sustainable, lower-carbon future in the automotive sector is leading to exciting new advances in the cars we drive and how they are powered, engineered for safety and designed for efficiency. From batteries to airbags and flame-resistant materials to high-performance tires, Albemarle is proud to be playing a critical role in advancing automobile safety and technology, and in helping to move our world onto a more sustainable road ahead. 

Illustration of an electric vehicle with labels identifying various parts that use products by albemarle, including flame retardants in textiles, circuit boards, and thermoplastic enclosures, and butyllithium in tires.

Electrifying automotive through lithium-ion batteries.

Albemarle is a leading supplier of lithium salts, a critical ingredient for the batteries in electric vehicles. The flow of lithium ions from the negative to positive electrode in the battery system is what enables the battery to be recharged. Lithium is the material of choice due to its unique properties, which drive higher energy density, reduced weight and faster charge times.

Lithium salts, in the form of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, can be used throughout the lithium-ion battery. For conventional lithium-ion batteries, our lithium carbonate is used as a precursor to lithium hexafluorophosphate, a critical ingredient for liquid electrolyte.

Our primary EV application for lithium salts is for the cathode. Generally, lithium hydroxide is used for high nickel chemistries, which enable higher energy density at the cell level. Lithium carbonate is predominately used for the manufacturing of lithium-ion phosphate chemistries, which generally offer longer cycle life, reduced risk for thermal runaway and reduced raw material inputs. Both lithium hydroxide and carbonate have overlap as raw materials for mid-nickel chemistries.

Maximizing the use of lithium through more efficient battery technology.

Albemarle stands out among major lithium producers in our ability to responsibly and reliably source, produce and innovate for next-generation and closed-loop solutions.

We are working with car, battery and material manufacturers to engineer lithium for higher-performance and optimized use in EVs, helping to maximize the world’s supply of lithium.

Some examples of promising new applications include:

 

Lithium Metal Anodes

By replacing the traditional graphite anodes in current lithium-ion batteries, we can significantly increase the energy density of the battery, giving more capacity in the same battery pack.

 

Lithium Sulfide

As a pivotal precursor for sulfidic electrolyte, Lithium Sulfide serves to unlock the potential of solid-state electrolytes (SSE).

 

Prelithiation

This process makes batteries much more efficient by infusing extra lithium ions into the battery’s anode during manufacturing. This process compensates for the initial loss of capacity that batteries experience during their first charge and discharge cycles.

An Albemarle employee in a laboratory wearing safety goggles and purple gloves, holding a silver bottle with a label. They are dressed in a dark lab coat with a company logo. Shelves with various lab equipment and containers are visible in the background.
A digital display of a vehicle’s battery level showing a full charge at 100%, with an icon of a fuel pump and a plug, framed by an eco and power gauge.
INCREASING RANGE

Improvements in Battery Materials

Through advancements in battery cell materials we can significantly increase the range of e-mobility vehicles by as much as 40% from present day capacity.

Interior view of a modern car showcasing the steering wheel with a logo and a large touchscreen display on the dashboard.
FLAME RETARDANTS

Fire Safety on the Move

Albemarle is a leader in fire prevention materials in vehicles of all makes and scale. We offer a wide range of flame-retardant materials that can be integrated into every facet of vehicle design—from battery casings and powertrain components to interior textiles and foams, to engine components and electrical systems. We work with partners every day on flame retardant solutions as new transport materials are required to be lighter, stronger and even more effective.

Close-up of a stack of car tires showcasing detailed tread patterns in a moody, monochrome tone.
HIGH PERFORMANCE TIRES

Tires for Our Cars & Planet

EVs have many characteristics that can be challenging for a tire – torque at any speed combined with a very heavy curb weight can wear out tires quickly. What the market needs are tires that are safer, more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly. Which is why Albemarle has developed a high-quality product stream that can boost long-term tire performance, at lower costs and with increased sustainability.

LITHIUM BATTERY RECYCLING

A major ‘new’ source of lithium – recycling.

Albemarle is committed to developing pathways to recover lithium from end-of-life batteries and use it as a feedstock to produce battery-grade quality lithium. Recycling lithium can result in lower greenhouse gas emissions in the battery manufacturing process and can improve security of supply. We are constantly working with strategic customers and industry partners to develop these technologies and to build this recycled lithium pipeline.

LITHIUM RELIABILITY

Our global lithium supply continues to expand thanks to a strong presence in major markets and regions.

Continuous improvements through optimization, efficiency and technology advancements ensures supply reliability.

A world map titled "expanding global footprint" shows various locations marked to indicate presence of resources, joint ventures, and production facilities. icons differentiate resource types like lithium, brine, and hard rock.

Airbags

While we hope you never have to experience an air bag deploying, they are proven life savers in many vehicle accidents. Thanks to some pioneering work done by Albemarle in titanium and zirconium metallurgy and pyrotechnics, millions of lives are safeguarded every day by safe, reliable air bag initiators.

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Connectors & Enclosures

More connectivity and more features in today's modern automotive vehicles mean more connectors and enclosures to accommodate wires, circuit boards and control panels. Albemarle's fire safety solutions offer properties such as thermal stability and strong environmental profiles making them exceptional choices for the automotive manufacturing industry.

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Tires

Albemarle has been helping to develop high-performance tires made with advanced materials and technologies that require fewer natural resources, last longer and perform better on the road. We’ve also been supporting advances in polymerization to make the manufacturing process of tires more energy efficient.

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Wire & Cable

Essential to the electrical and electronics industry, wire and cable manufacturers need additives to reduce fire hazards. Albemarle’s innovations in flame retardants are integrated during the wire and cable extrusion process to assure the most advanced fire safety possible.

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Precision Cleaning

Sensitive materials – such as complex circuit boards, optical equipment, aerospace and automotive parts – benefit from Albemarle’s high-performance cleaning solvents, which are specifically designed for vapor degreasing, cold and ultrasonic cleaning. Our solutions are low Global Warming Potential and low Ozone Depletion Potential, and are compatible with metals to reduce the risk of corrosion, making them ideal for cleaning delicate components in electronics, medical devices and precision engineering.

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