Where 6 Metals Used For Electric Cars Come From | True Cost | Insider News

The electric car industry is in a global race to secure battery metals, leading to environmental and social impacts. Lithium, nickel, and other metals are being extracted from various locations, causing landscape changes, pollution, and hazardous working conditions. The demand for these materials is driven by the need for larger battery packs in electric vehicles (EVs). The mining boom is dominated by China, but it also involves significant tradeoffs and environmental impacts. Chile's Atacama Desert, for instance, is a major source of lithium, with operations transforming the landscape and raising concerns about water usage. Companies like Albemarle and SQM are major players in this industry, and efforts are being made to reduce the environmental footprint, such as using solar energy for lithium extraction.

The Atacama Desert in Chile is not only a significant source of lithium but also the world's largest producer of copper, another crucial material for EV batteries. The environmental concerns in the region extend beyond lithium mining, with copper mining also posing significant challenges. Copper mines often leave behind vast open pits that can become toxic lakes, as seen in the case of the Berkeley Pit in Montana. Efforts to protect wildlife, such as using propane cannons and drones to deter migratory birds from landing on these toxic lakes, highlight the ongoing struggle to balance industrial needs with environmental protection. The demand for copper in EVs is growing, but so is the awareness of the need for sustainable mining practices.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a major player in the cobalt mining industry, supplying over 70% of the world's cobalt. Cobalt is essential for battery cathodes due to its high-temperature resistance and corrosion resistance. However, the mining practices in the DRC, particularly in artisanal mines, have raised significant human rights and environmental concerns. Artisanal mining is often informal and low-tech, leading to dangerous working conditions and child labor. Large-scale mining operations, while more regulated, have also been accused of displacing local communities and causing environmental damage. The DRC's cobalt largely ends up in China, where it is processed and used in EV batteries, highlighting the complex and often problematic supply chains in the EV industry.

Indonesia is poised to benefit from the shift in EV battery technology towards nickel-rich compositions. As the world's largest nickel producer, Indonesia is attracting significant investment from foreign mining firms and car manufacturers. The country has banned nearly all nickel exports to encourage domestic processing and battery production. However, nickel mining in Indonesia is concentrated on the resource-rich island of Sulawesi, where it is increasingly in conflict with local agriculture. Pollution from mining has also impacted marine life, raising environmental concerns. Despite these challenges, Indonesia is positioning itself as a key player in the EV supply chain, aiming to capture more value from its mineral resources.

Deep sea mining is emerging as a potential source of battery metals, with companies like The Metals Company exploring the extraction of polymetallic nodules from the ocean floor. These nodules contain manganese, nickel, and cobalt, all crucial for EV batteries. The process involves lowering a collector vehicle to the seabed, where it vacuums up the nodules. While this method could potentially reduce land-based deforestation, it also poses significant environmental risks. The deep sea is home to diverse and unique marine life, and the potential for species extinction and ecological harm is a major concern. The international seabed is regulated by the International Seabed Authority, which has granted exploration contracts but has yet to issue commercial mining contracts.

Graphite is a key component of EV batteries, used in the anode or negative end of each battery cell. While most EVs use synthetic graphite derived from coal, there is still demand for natural graphite, which is cheaper. China is the world's largest producer of graphite, but in 2023, it announced restrictions on exports, causing concern among foreign EV manufacturers. Countries like Sri Lanka, which has high-quality vein graphite, are looking to capitalize on this demand. However, working conditions in Sri Lanka's graphite mines are challenging, with miners facing risks of lung diseases from exposure to toxic air particles. The potential for Sri Lanka to supply the EV industry depends on improving working conditions and infrastructure.

As electric vehicles become more mainstream, the focus is shifting towards cleaner and more sustainable supply chains. The carbon footprint of EVs is initially higher than that of internal combustion engine cars, but this changes once the EV is in use due to the lack of direct emissions. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the origins of materials used in EVs, driving change in the industry. Reusing and recycling EV batteries is seen as a key strategy to minimize the need for mining. Startups are exploring innovative recycling methods, such as slicing batteries into shreds while submerged in liquid to prevent fires. As recycling rates increase, recovered metals could account for a significant portion of the world's cobalt and nickel needs. However, the full impact of these efforts may not be felt until the mid-century.