•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The development of batteries for electric vehicles has progressed faster than experts and policymakers anticipated. New research suggests the market can handle both raw material shortages and price increases, raising questions about which materials are truly critical to the energy transition.
A study published in Cell Reports Physical Science analyzed battery development in the electric vehicle sector over the past 15 years. It examines how so-called critical raw materials have been replaced by other materials in response to changes in price and availability.
“The electric vehicle market seems able to commercialize new battery technologies quickly to secure production. Even though the volumes of materials required are rapidly increasing, this suggests that individual materials may not be as critical as we previously thought,” said André Månberger, Associate Professor at the Division of Environmental and Energy Systems at Lund University.
Electric cars are being used to an increasing extent, with more than a quarter of all new cars sold globally being electric. The transition has also reached a number of countries: 39 countries have surpassed a market share of 10%, and the shift is particularly rapid in South-East Asia. In Vietnam, almost 40% of all cars are electric.
Researchers Björn Nykvist, André Månberger, Lars J. Nilsson, and Ph.D. student Oscar Gustafsson identify four innovation leaps in electric vehicle battery technology since the early 2010s.
The study says these shifts reflect both fast innovation in battery performance and functionality and changes driven by price increases and shortages for certain materials.
One example highlighted is the replacement of cobalt in batteries with nickel as new technologies were developed. Cobalt extraction struggled to keep pace as demand and prices rose quickly. Manufacturers also sought to avoid the social and environmental impacts linked to cobalt extraction.
The study also notes that batteries using nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) minerals have increasingly been replaced by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP batteries can be manufactured at lower costs and require fewer critical materials.
“If we look at these technological leaps, we can see that one technology dominates before being displaced by new innovations to which the market adapts. Today, only a quarter of all vehicles sold are electric, so there is good potential for more of these adjustments as we continue to transition,” said Björn Nykvist, affiliated researcher at Lund University and Head of Division at Global Agendas, Climate, and Systems at the Stockholm Environment Institute.
The researchers argue that these changes indicate the electric vehicle market is robust and able to handle shifts in material supply. They suggest governments could be more cautious in designating specific materials as critical, given how quickly innovation is occurring. Instead of focusing only on new mining projects for particular minerals, they call for a range of policy options to support the energy transition.
The study emphasizes the importance of cooperation across the battery manufacturing value chain. It notes that China currently dominates refinement of various materials, and argues that similar capabilities could also develop in the EU.
“Since the market seems capable of withstanding pressures, we believe that Sweden and other countries should focus more on forming international partnerships and trade alliances to support the sustainable import and export of raw materials,” Nykvist concluded.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
