Battery raw material constraints in Europe
In a recent earnings call, Elon Musk called lithium a “fundamental limiting factor” in EV adoption. Several studies are pointing out the challenge of meeting the raw materials demand in the medium-term (~ 2030) and point to the need for increased recyling.
A new report by Eurometaux, an association of non-ferrous metals producers and recyclers in Europe, published a study on the outlook of supply-demand of metals required for the clean energy transition in Europe.
Key Findings
The summary figure is self-explanatory, but here are key takeaways:
- Demand for lithium will increase by > 3500% by 2050, while that of rare earths by ~600 – 2500%
- There is no domestic mining in Europe, so that the region will have to rely on imports for raw materials and significantly increase recycling capacity.
- Raw materials are sourced from a few countries and there is clearly a watch-out from a geo-political perspective.
Recently, the EU has adopted a regulatory framework for batteries which mandates material recovery and recycling of battery raw materials.
If you like such content, check out the monthly newsletter covering the latest on sustainable transportation technologies and regulations. Sign up below.
Like it ? Share it !
Other recent posts
Mobility in India – excerpts of recent headlines
A summary of reports from a couple of leading newspapers in India, taken during end of Sept to early October, 2024 points to the rapidly changing mobility and energy landscape in India.
Biofuels summit in Washington DC highlights role of ethanol in transport decarbonization
The biofuels summit hosted by Growth Energy at Washington DC highlighted the role that ethanol continues to play in decarbonizing the transport sector.
Guest Article – How do we make mobility better?
From Brandon Bartneck – “I’ve spent the past four years chasing down the answer to the following question…
How do we make mobility better?
It’s meaningful. Probably the most impactful challenge that I’ve tried to help solve. But it’s far from straightforward.”