Recycling instead of mining

Issue #265

We may reach a day when recycling of critical minerals for energy transition is the way to go, instead of mining for more materials, due to supply, environmental and economic constraints. About 1.2 million batteries from EVs are expected to be retired globally in 2030, the number projected to reach 50 million by 2050. Recycling just half of them could reduce the need for new mining operations and cut the demand for virgin battery minerals by up to 28%. Japan's biggest producer of fossil fuel power, plans to extract?valuable metals from old EV batteries, aiming for a roughly 90% recovery rate. India despite being the largest manufacturer of tractors in the world is still away from observing the electrification trend. Several companies have started their work for the same. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently announced that the company is updating its platform with new sustainability-minded features, including an “EV preference" and a chatbot to answer EV queries. Other than waiting for a few minutes for an electric cab, Uber CEO Mr Khosrowshahi said "high quality" Chinese-made EVs are part of the solution to the climate crisis. On a seprate note, a recent Harvard University study casts doubt on the viability of hydrogen as a fuel in the US. Below are some recent updates reported in the media.

Recycling to reduce virgin material usage

Supply of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, graphite and cobalt already are constrained by various environmental and political factors. Extracting minerals from EV batteries can help ease the crunch. About 1.2 million batteries from electrified passenger and commercial vehicles are expected to be retired globally in 2030, the numbers rising to 50 million by 2050. Recycling just half of them could reduce the need for new mining operations and cut the demand for virgin battery minerals by up to 28%, according to a study by the International Council on Clean Transportation in San Francisco. It will take two-and-a-half decades for recycled material to make a significant difference because of the lag time between a battery's debut and its demise. - Auto News

Critical EV material security

JERA, Japan's biggest producer of fossil fuel power, plans to extract?valuable metals from old EV batteries, aiming for a roughly 90% recovery rate. JERA's method uses water and a high-voltage electric current to free valuable metals contained in batteries. With 80% of Japan's used EVs exported overseas, recycling old batteries could keep more resources like lithium, cobalt and nickel in the country to improve economic security. The US, EU and China are all moving to ensure their own supply chains for these metals are secure. - Nikkei Asia

Tractor electrification for farming

With the continuous push for electrification by the Government of India, one untapped section is the off-road transport sector which is mostly the agriculture sector. Electrification is the trend in India, but the agriculture sector remains untouched because of its prevailing challenges. India despite being the largest manufacturer of tractors in the world is still away from observing the electrification trend. Several companies have started their work for the same. - Economic Times Auto

Chatbot for EV clarifications

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recently announced that the company is updating its platform with new sustainability-minded features, including an “EV preference” that will let customers opt for fully electric vehicles by default, whenever they hail a ride. For drivers, Uber said it is rolling out an “EV Mentor” program, which connects drivers for any questions about electric mobility. The company also debuted an AI chatbot powered by OpenAI’s ChatGPT, looking to answer questions for drivers on the ride-hail network about what it takes to buy and use a battery-electric vehicle instead of a gas-burning vehicle. - CNBC

To impose or not impose EV tariffs

Other than waiting for a few minutes for an electric cab, Uber CEO Mr Khosrowshahi said "high quality" Chinese-made EVs are part of the solution to the climate crisis. In London, almost a third of Uber drivers have invested in an EV, so the difference in waiting times may not be long. He also called on the new UK government to stick to its pre-election pledge and end the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030, after the previous government pushed the deadline back to 2035. Mr Khosrowshahi said he understood that governments had broader things to consider around EV tariffs, but saw Chinese vehicles as part of the solution. - BBC

Prohibitive cost of Hydrogen

The International Energy Agency says global hydrogen demand reached 97 million tons in 2023, up 2.5% from 2022.?However, a recent Harvard University study casts doubt on the viability of hydrogen as a fuel in the US. The researchers say the costs of producing, moving and storing the gas are higher than?they are for?using fossil fuels and?then?removing carbon from the atmosphere?afterwards.?- WSJ