China To Achieve Circular Economy in EV Batteries By CIOTechOutlook Team

China To Achieve Circular Economy in EV Batteries

CIOTechOutlook Team | Monday, 11 December 2023, 02:47 IST

As per researchers, China could establish a circular economy in electric vehicle batteries before Europe and the United States. They predicted that by 2059, China will be able to use recycling to meet its own need for primary lithium for electric vehicles, which is currently sourced through mining.

However, Europe and the US will not achieve this feat until after 2070, the scientists from the University of Munster, Germany, said. They conducted an analysis to find when the demand for the three most important raw materials for batteries -- lithium, cobalt and nickel - could be met entirely through recycling in Europe, the US and China and when a completely circular economy would be possible in this segment in these regions, as per economic times.

The findings of the research team were published in the journal Resources Conservation and Recycling. In terms of cobalt, the researchers discovered that China would be able to meet its needs through recycling as early as 2045, however, Europe and the United States would not be able to do so until 2052 and 2056, respectively.

Furthermore, the experts estimated that China would be able to cover its nickel needs through recycling in 2046, followed by Europe in 2058, and the United States in 2064. The team used data from current research and industry estimates for the analysis, which focused on advancements in battery production and sales, as well as the accompanying need for raw materials.

They then ran a dynamic material flow study to estimate future demand as well as the recyclable raw materials that were available at the time.

They said that while previous studies have looked at the supply of recycled raw materials for batteries and the demand for them, it was not yet clear as to when "complete circularity" would be achieved in these three regions.