Where 6 Metals Used For Electric Cars Come From | True Cost | Insider News
Insider News・21 minutes read
The electric car industry faces intense resource competition for battery metals, with concerns about environmental impact and hazardous working conditions despite the benefits of reducing emissions. Various countries are involved in the extraction and production of essential minerals for EV batteries, highlighting the complex global supply chain and the need for sustainable practices like recycling.
Insights
- The electric car industry's global search for battery metals, including lithium and nickel, has intensified competition among major players like China, the US, and Europe, highlighting the critical role of these minerals in powering electric vehicles.
- Despite the environmental and social challenges of extracting raw materials for electric car batteries, the movement of lithium ions within these batteries significantly impacts vehicle performance, range, and charging speed, underscoring the intricate relationship between battery composition and overall electric vehicle functionality.
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Recent questions
What are the environmental impacts of mining battery metals?
Mining battery metals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, can result in scarred landscapes, toxic pollution, and hazardous working conditions. Despite the benefits of electric cars in reducing emissions, the extraction process for these raw materials can have significant negative consequences on the environment and the health of workers involved. It is crucial for the electric car industry to address these issues and implement sustainable practices to minimize the environmental impact of mining battery metals.
How do electric vehicles differ from petrol vehicles in mineral content?
Electric vehicles (EVs) have over six times more mineral content than petrol vehicles, with most minerals used in the massive battery packs composed of thousands of cells. The movement of lithium ions between anode and cathode in the battery pack powers the vehicle, with each metal in the mix affecting the car's performance, range, and charging speed. This high mineral content in EVs highlights the importance of securing a stable supply chain for battery metals to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.
Where is cobalt mainly sourced for battery cathodes?
Cobalt, crucial for battery cathodes, is mainly sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, there are concerns over child labor and environmental impacts in artisanal mining operations in the region. The ethical sourcing of cobalt is a significant issue for the electric car industry, as companies strive to ensure that the raw materials used in EV batteries are obtained responsibly and sustainably.
What is the role of Indonesia in the EV supply chain?
Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, aims to increase its role in the EV supply chain through High-Pressure Acid Leaching, a process with environmental risks like hazardous waste. Nickel is a key component in EV batteries, and Indonesia's efforts to expand its presence in the supply chain highlight the global competition for battery metals among countries. Balancing the economic benefits of mining with environmental concerns is crucial for the sustainable growth of the electric vehicle industry.
Why is recycling end-of-life EV batteries important?
Recycling end-of-life EV batteries is essential for reducing the need for mining new battery metals. Companies like Lys Cycle are developing safe processes to recover metals like cobalt and nickel from spent batteries, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy for electric vehicles. By recycling and reusing battery materials, the electric car industry can minimize its environmental footprint and reduce reliance on finite resources.
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Summary
00:00
Global Competition for Battery Metals in EVs
- The electric car industry is searching globally for battery metals, from lithium in Chile to nickel in Indonesia, leading to an intense resource competition among China, the US, and Europe.
- Extracting these raw materials can result in scarred landscapes, toxic pollution, and hazardous working conditions, despite the benefits of electric cars in reducing emissions.
- Electric vehicles (EVs) have over six times more mineral content than petrol vehicles, with most minerals used in the massive battery packs composed of thousands of cells.
- The movement of lithium ions between anode and cathode in the battery pack powers the vehicle, with each metal in the mix affecting the car's performance, range, and charging speed.
- The hidden supply chains for battery metals are dominated by China, with significant environmental impacts and a high demand for minerals.
- In Chile's Atacama Desert, vast salt flats hold lithium, with the extraction process involving pumping brine to the surface, evaporation, and purification into battery-grade lithium.
- Copper, another essential metal in EV batteries, is mainly produced in Chile, with existing mines nearing the end of their lives, necessitating the development of new copper mines.
- Cobalt, crucial for battery cathodes, is mainly sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with concerns over child labor and environmental impacts in artisanal mining operations.
- Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, aims to increase its role in the EV supply chain through High-Pressure Acid Leaching, a process with environmental risks like hazardous waste.
- Gabon mines manganese for EV battery cathodes, with French-owned companies operating since 1951, leading to economic development but also concerns about social inequality and environmental impact.
21:51
Deep-sea mining for EV battery materials
- EV demand for steel could grow eightfold by 2030, with manganese, nickel, and cobalt found in polymetallic nodules 2 miles below the ocean's surface.
- The Metals Company aims to mine these nodules using collector vehicles that suck up rocks and mud from the seabed, separating them at the surface.
- Deep-sea mining in international waters is regulated by the International Seabed Authority, with 31 exploration contracts granted by the end of 2023.
- The Metals Company plans to build processing centers at ports to refine the rocks, generating zero waste and avoiding child labor.
- Graphite, crucial for EV batteries, is mainly produced by China, but other countries like Sri Lanka are looking to tap into the market.
- Recycling end-of-life EV batteries is essential for reducing the need for mining, with companies like Lys Cycle developing safe processes to recover metals like cobalt and nickel.
