Sweden charts path to cut EV battery material demand by 75%
A new study shows Sweden can dramatically reduce its reliance on critical raw materials—nickel, cobalt, lithium—needed for electric vehicles through smarter infrastructure and vehicle design rather than recycling alone. For automakers and policymakers, the findings suggest that complementary measures like better charging networks and lighter cars offer more leverage than recycling programs in securing supply chains.
Originaltitel: A combination of measures limits demand for critical materials in Sweden's electric car transition
<p>Electrification of passenger cars will result in an increased demand for critical raw materials. Here we estimate the quantities of nickel, manganese, cobalt, lithium, and graphite that could be required for a transition to electric cars in Sweden and how different measures can limit material demand. We find notable reduction potentials for shorter battery range-enabled by improved charging infrastructure, increased vehicle energy efficiency, and reduced travel demand compared to a reference scenario. The reduction potentials for downsizing and more lightweight cars, and car sharing are more modest. The combined impact of these measures would be 50-75% reduction in cumulative demand and 72-87% reduction in in-use stock in 2050, depending on the material and battery chemistry pathway. Generally, the reduction potentials are larger than the potential contributions from recycling, suggesting that these complementary measures may be more effective in reducing material demand.</p>