Though it’s long been used in both dry cell and rechargeable batteries, manganese has always been the unsung hero among battery metals. Lithium has dominated the spotlight, and copper has become critical in our rush to electrify everything.
But now manganese is enjoying its place in the sun. Since affordable lithium batteries for both electric cars and energy storage have come to rely on manganese for safety and performance, demand for the humble metal has skyrocketed. It turns out that every battery chemistry breakthrough benefits from having manganese in the mix, and manganese-rich batteries are the best.
Whether you want fast charging EVs that don’t overheat and work equally well in the Arctic cold or Dubai desert, or solar storage that can ride the charge-demand wave for years without missing a beat, manganese is the magic ingredient.
The top three producers, South Africa, Gabon and Australia, are having a field day. Collectively, they produce 15 times as much as China, who is a big consumer. Demand for high-purity manganese sulphate is expected to quadruple over the next five years.
New research pointing to even higher concentrations of manganese in battery formulations is changing the game, making manganese a strategically important mineral for the future of electrification.
So, who needs high-tech nanomaterials like graphene and silicon lattices, when manganese is abundant, affordable, and effective?
Warning: Hazardous thinking at work
Despite appearances to the contrary, Futureworld cannot and does not predict the future. Our Mindbullets scenarios are fictitious and designed purely to explore possible futures, challenge and stimulate strategic thinking. Use these at your own risk. Any reference to actual people, entities or events is entirely allegorical. Copyright Futureworld International Limited. Reproduction or distribution permitted only with recognition of Copyright and the inclusion of this disclaimer.