Blog by Jane Marsh – Six Times the Minerals: How EVs and Gas Cars Stack Up in the Race for Resources

Electric vehicles (EVs) are synonymous with the green energy transition. However, despite lowering global transportation emissions, production demands a significantly greater amount of minerals than gas cars, raising concerns regarding their actual sustainability and overall environmental and social impact. Understanding how each vehicle type performs in resource extraction and processing is crucial to making informed decisions, whether creating policies around EV manufacturing or purchasing.

Mineral Requirements for EVs vs. Gas Cars 

According to the International Energy Agency, EV batteries and motors require six times as many minerals as conventional vehicles. These resources often include lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and manganese, which improve battery capacity and longevity. Rare-earth elements are also required to create permanent magnets for the motors. Overall, copper and aluminum are pillars of electrification.

Conversely, gas-powered vehicles use copper and manganese in much lesser amounts — 22.3 and 11.2 kilograms (kg), respectively, compared to 53.2 and 24.5 kg in EVs. This does not include aluminum or steel, which combines iron with elements like chromium, manganese and nickel.

Global Demand and Supply Chain Challenges 

The demand for minerals is skyrocketing to decarbonize transportation. According to one study, EV adoption will accelerate the demand for lithium, nickel, and copper by 43, 41 and 28 times their 2020 levels by 2040. Overall, EV mineral requirements will surge 30 times the current rate by 2040, underscoring a dire resource challenge in the shift toward sustainable mobility.

This rising demand places incredible pressure on supply chains, potentially causing geopolitical instability, economic disruptions and market fluctuations. For example, the Democratic Republic of Congo supplies 60% of the world’s cobalt, yet child labor and poor working conditions taint its extraction processes.

Meanwhile, Australia, Chile and China dominate the lithium market. China, in particular, is a major producer and investor, acquiring 6.4 million tonnes of lithium reserves from countries like Chile, Canada and Australia in 2021. It also maintains most of the global lithium refining capacity for EV battery manufacturing, giving the nation leverage over supply and market costs.

The Environmental Impact of the Mineral Life Cycle   

EVs may be more environmentally friendly than conventional cars, but they are more resource- and energy-intensive. The mineral life cycle — from extraction to end-of-life — has a tremendous environmental impact.

Mining and processing, for instance, create immense amounts of greenhouse gases, water and land pollution, and habitat degradation. According to McKinsey, the mining industry emits 2% to 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions, of which 40% to 50% derive from diesel use and 30% to 35% from nonrenewable electricity. Lithium extraction also has a significant water footprint, requiring 326 cubic meters of water — nearly 86,000 gallons — for every ton produced, hurting already water-scarce regions.

Recycling and a circular economy are critical to reducing future raw material demand, limiting waste, and decreasing environmental damage. For instance, collecting, sorting, and melting metal uses less energy than extracting new minerals and prevents resource depletion. It’s also a job creator, contributing 681,000 new positions and $37.8 billion in wages in 2020.

Policy and Industry Responses for Sustainability

Legislators and the auto industry — particularly EV battery makers — prioritize sustainable and ethical mineral sourcing. Under the European Green Deal, the 2023 Battery Regulation aims to reduce the ecological footprint of EV batteries and ensure their sustainability throughout their entire life cycle, from extraction to recycling.

The U.S. critical minerals strategy strives to limit reliance on other countries to supply resources. Under the Trump Administration, this would expand the nation’s mining industry on federally protected lands to bolster domestic production. Artificial intelligence-driven observation tools could help the U.S. government examine mining practices and protect local communities and the environment.

Scientists are also exploring lithium-ion batteries that utilize less cobalt, which would transform the industry. Likewise, advanced recycling technologies improve sorting and processing capabilities to recover existing minerals from used batteries. The combined initiatives will decrease the environmental impacts of EV mineral resources, bolster supply security and aid the energy transition.

Opportunities and Risks for a Sustainable Transition 

Emerging technologies and battery chemistries will certainly lessen reliance on scarce minerals, but not without some risks. Widespread adoption of best practices for responsible sourcing is essential. Enhancing transparency throughout the supply chain is also necessary to prevent environmental harm and a human rights crisis.

Additionally, if the mineral supply cannot keep up with the demand for EVs, the world might experience a slower progression toward decarbonization, supply chain constraints and price fluctuations. Policy changes, the rollback of EV incentives, high costs and inadequate infrastructure will also slow things down. Continuous investments in EV developments, research, material recycling systems and global cooperation are the key to ongoing opportunities, ensuring an equitable and feasible zero-carbon future.

Navigating the Path to Zero-Carbon Mobility 

Conventional vehicles may perform better in terms of resource use, but EVs are still more crucial to the green energy revolution. If the goal is a truly decarbonized transportation sector, the world must address mineral challenges, including responsible sourcing and robust recycling systems.

About the author: Jane works as an environmental and energy writer. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co.