Recycling can cut EU’s EV battery metal imports

Europe could cut its reliance on EV battery mineral imports by up to a quarter by the end of the decade bypromoting recycling, according to a new study.

Materials from end-of-life batteries and gigafactory scrap have the potential to build up to 2.4 million EVs locally in 2030, according to the research by Brussels based consultancy Transport & Environment (T&E).

But T&E warns that the EU and the UK will not be able to achieve the total unless they back recycling projects at risk of being cancelled.

Recycling spent cells and production scrap could provide 14% of the lithium, 16% of the nickel, 17% of the manganese and 25% of the cobalt that Europe will need for electric cars by 2030, the study finds.

These proportions could then rise dramatically, with the region having the potential to be almost self-sufficient in cobalt for electric cars in 2040.

Slash reliance

Julia Poliscanova, a senior director at T&E, mantains: ‘If
Europe delivers on its recycling plans, it can slash its reliance on imported critical metals. The expected volumes of locally recovered materials can enable
Europe to build millions of clean electric vehicles locally.’

The research finds that recycling EV minerals in Europe
could avoid the need for 12 new mines globally by 2040: four lithium, three nickel, four cobalt and one manganese.

Recycling in Europe with its cleaner electricity grid could also cut the carbon footprint of sourcing lithium by 19% compared to extracting it in Australia and refining it in China. But to reap the economic and
sustainability benefits, Europe has to scale up its recycling industry. The report finds that almost half of the recycling capacity that has been announced
for the region is on hold or uncertain of going ahead.

‘Local’ recycling

T&E calls on the EU and the UK to urgently prioritise support for recycling in their policies and funding programmes. It argues the EU’s Circular Economy Act should support more localised recycling factories while restricting the exports of battery waste and simplifying the shipment of end-of-life battery materials within Europe. 

Poliscanova adds: ‘Neither the EU nor the UK are ready to capture the recycling opportunity. Almost half
of the planned recycling capacity is at risk due to high energy costs, a shortage of technical expertise or a lack of financial support. It’s time to start treating battery recycling like another clean tech and prioritise it in our
policy and grant making.’