A tungsten mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo
"We have to make the raw material supply chain more sustainable in all technologies"
The new e-mobil BW study for the demand for raw materials for battery-electric and fuel-cell electric vehicles has revealed that the elements lithium, cobalt, platinum, nickel, rare-earth metals and copper are considered to be of importance for electric vehicles and their limited availability and substitutability be classified critically. However, only available, inexpensive and sustainably sourced raw materials can make modern technologies such as electromobility successful and acceptable. While the use of rare-earth metals and copper is important for both electric vehicles, lithium, cobalt and nickel in particular play a key role in vehicle batteries. The supply of platinum, which is relevant for fuel cells, is currently dependent in particular on South Africa, which disputes over 70 percent of the world's platinum production. The Democratic Republic of Congo controls about 60 percent of global cobalt production, China provides over 80 percent of rare earth metals. In addition to the supply structures in the countries of origin, the focus of the detailed study is on questions regarding the development of production capacities, resulting supply dependencies, greenhouse gas emissions and price developments as well as the important consideration of ecological, social and ethical aspects of resource extraction.
Material precursors must become more sustainable
"It is important for us to use this study to provide important information and facts in order to shed light on the raw material problem and, above all, to identify solution strategies so that we can approach the topic quickly," says Franz Loogen, Managing Director of e-mobil BW GmbH, to the objective of the study, which was written on behalf of the provincial agency by consulting firm Thinkstep AG. "Securing raw material availabilities, increasing resource efficiency and sustainable material pre-emptive chains are crucial factors for the market upturn in electromobility to succeed. Recycling raw materials through recycling is a great opportunity for us to live up to our claim to sustainability, "says Loogen.
Commodities with great impact on costs and CO2 emission
The study found that the raw materials considered have a significant impact on the cost of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles and also significantly affect the size of the "ecological rucksack" of an e-vehicle. Since more rare raw materials are needed for battery electric vehicles (BEV) than for fuel cell vehicles (FCEV), the costs here are more significant or the risks associated with price increases are higher. The cost contributions of the raw materials for a BEV are estimated at around 2700 US dollars, the cost contributions for an FCEV at approximately 1250 US dollars. The consideration of CO2 emissions in the extraction of raw materials depending on the vehicle technology shows that the required amounts of copper, nickel and cobalt in the battery electric vehicle are associated with high greenhouse gas emissions. The recovery of lithium and rare earth metals is relatively less CO2-intensive.
Although the fuel cell vehicle uses less rare raw materials, the removal of the necessary platinum is associated with relatively high CO2 emissions. The study also shows that the use of renewable energies in the extraction of raw materials considered CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced. Especially with platinum, a very large reduction potential could be calculated.
Both vehicle technologies necessary
It is important to emphasize to the authors of the study that the comparative analysis does not aim to present the two technologies as competing. Because of different technological characteristics and different target sectors BEV and FCEV co-exist. While battery electric vehicles offer especially for short distances in the car sector, it is primarily the long-distance uses and applications with high performance requirements, such as in commercial vehicles in which the fuel Cell drive can be used purposefully. "It is therefore important to approach the problem of raw materials for both vehicle technologies in a differentiated manner and to solve them with suitable approaches and strategies. This will help to avoid risks, reduce development barriers and further increase the acceptance of both technologies so that they can deliver their full and global benefits ". Benjamin Reuter from Thinkstep AG, who led the creation of the study.
Also aim at social and environmental improvements
For the acceptance of electromobility is important that affordable climate protection is not achieved at the expense of people and the environment in the raw material countries. The study has identified many starting points for all commodities under consideration, which reduce health hazards from mining activities as well as regional environmental degradation with an impact on the local population. For example, child labor is a central ethical aspect in connection with the promotion of cobalt. But also environmental pollution such as air pollution and water abstraction, for example during lithium mining, must be counteracted.
Seven recommendations for action for more sustainability
Based on the results, the study derives seven recommended actions.
- Firstly, reducing dependencies by reducing the use of critical raw materials and finding more alternatives for technologies and materials in the vehicle.
- Secondly, cooperation between the processing industry and the suppliers of raw materials would have to be created in order to increase planning reliability with regard to future market conditions on both sides.
- The third recommendation aims to increase cooperation between industry and recycling companies and to make the recovery of materials more efficient and efficient. A starting point for this is among other things the increase of the possible degree of automation in the different processes. In order to fully exploit the potential of recycling, it is also advisable to cooperate with all stakeholders along the value chain.
- Fourth, political measures are cited that help to close the material cycles. These include, in particular, the revision of the European Battery Directive and the introduction of individual minimum recycling rates for certain materials instead of the previous regulation of a certain proportion of the total mass.
- The fifth is the positive design of the supply chain of primary raw materials, which, given the conditions described, is a task of the utmost importance. Here, both the companies and the policy must be involved. Multi-stakeholder initiatives are a popular tool to increase transparency in the supply chain and to work towards improvements. Here a consistent implementation of efficient measures on the part of all actors involved is required.
- The sixth measure calls for holistic considerations as the basis for decision-making on regulatory requirements in the transport sector to ensure a fair baseline for the technologies and to prevent shifting effects.
- Lastly, ensuring a robust and up-to-date information base on commodity sourcing is an extremely important foundation for making relevant observations and sensitizing the general public to the challenges involved.
Now set the course
"The study has highlighted the importance of raw materials in the value chain of electromobility and provided concrete recommendations for action on how we can tackle the numerous challenges. Now, the strategic course is being set as to how electric mobility can be successfully industrialized while meeting the requirements of sustainability in its three dimensions - ecological, economic and social ", Franz Loogenan appeals to business, science and politics to take up the results of the study and develop them further ,
background objects
E-mobil BW is pushing ahead with the industrialization and market introduction of future-proof mobility solutions in a network with partners from industry, science and the public sector. In doing so, it will strengthen Baden-Württemberg's economic and scientific location in the long term. E-mobil BW cooperates with municipalities and thus pursues a regional strategy for the nationwide establishment of climate-friendly and networked mobility in Baden-Württemberg. In addition, she coordinates, among other things, the "Leading-Edge Cluster Electric Mobility South-West", which, with some 140 actors from industry and science, is one of the most important regional groups in the field of electromobility. In the fuel cell BW cluster, e-mobil BW brings together more than 60 players from industry, science and politics on the topics of hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
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