EV & Battery Manufacturing worked example

Electrode Coating Automation Payback with electrode coating project investment of 425,000 $: a worked example

This worked example runs the electrode coating automation payback numbers for a tougher week than the baseline: electrode coating project investment of 425,000 $ instead of the typical 850,000 $. Estimate payback for electrode coating improvements from capital cost, annual savings, and annual support cost.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Electrode coating project investment: 425,000 $ (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 850,000)
  • Annual coating-line savings: 310,000 $ / yr (held at the documented default)
  • Annual coating support cost: 45,000 $ / yr (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Net annual coating savings = annual coating-line savings - annual coating support cost.
  • Electrode coating payback period works out to 1.6 yr payback at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Net annual coating savings works out to 265,000 $ / yr at these inputs.
  • Coating project investment works out to 425,000 $ at these inputs.
  • Five-year net coating value works out to 900,000 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where electrode coating project investment sits at 850,000 $ and the headline result is 3.21 yr payback, this scenario comes in 50% below the baseline at 1.6 yr payback.
  • Use it when scoping a slot-die coater upgrade, inline metrology automation, or closed-loop areal-loading control on an anode or cathode line. A result at this level usually justifies acting on the stressed input before touching anything else, because every other figure in the table is downstream of it.

Results at a glance

  • Electrode coating payback period: 1.6 yr payback (headline result)
  • Net annual coating savings: 265,000 $ / yr
  • Coating project investment: 425,000 $
  • Five-year net coating value: 900,000 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Electrode Coating Automation Payback calculator, set electrode coating project investment to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.