Metal resources for electric mobility

Limiting the production of greenhouse gases requires the development of technologies that do not rely on carbon-based fossil fuels. While the share of wind power (kinetic energy from the wind) and solar power (energy from sunlight) among these renewable energies is growing, it is also important to replace the fleet of combustion-powered cars with cars that consume less fossil fuel (hybrid/electric, hydrogen). These developments require the availability of metals. In the case of electric mobility, a large proportion of the metals required are for batteries.

Electric mobility relies on a variety of metals and minerals, often referred to as "critical materials", to manufacture the main components of electric vehicles (EVs), including batteries, electric motors and charging infrastructure. These primary resources are essential to the development and expansion of the electric mobility industry.

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, enabling EVs to be charged and discharged hundreds of times over their lifetime. Lithium-ion batteries have a very high energy density, which makes them ideal for electric vehicles, even if current research is seeking to further increase battery energy density to meet a need expressed by future electric vehicle users.

Depending on the electric car model, batteries can weigh from 300 kg to 800 kg for the most powerful (Tesla Model Y). This weight corresponds to the metal oxides (lithium, nickel, copper...), the container (metal case) and the regulation systems, and is of the order of 25% of the car's weight. In the case of Li-NMC batteries, between 3 and 5 kg of lithium are required, and in some Tesla models, up to ten times more. Other types of battery are also used by some manufacturers (lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, acronym LFP). Less expensive and less efficient, they are used in entry-level cars. At the motor level, the permanent magnets in some engines contain several kilograms of rare earths. Only certain models, often top-of-the-range, are concerned (certain Tesla and BMW models, for example).

From a general point of view, here is a list of primary resources and their role for Li-ion batteries in electric cars:

• Li-NMC(A) batteries: lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminium ;

• Li-FP batteries: lithium, iron, phosphorus ;

• Titanium batteries: lithiated titanium oxide type Li ₄ Ti ₅ O ₁₂ ;

• To which must be added the aluminum of the outer casings and current collector of the positive electrode, the...