MINERAL USE IN EVs

The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimated that electric cars use 381 lbs more
minerals, such as lithium, nickel, and copper, compared to ICE cars.

However, scientists found that mineral use for electric cars in the long run is far lower
than gasoline and diesel mineral usage when accounting for oil needed for fuel-
burning cars.

Experts also describe another important factor that most are missing when addressing
mineral usage of electric cars: Most battery minerals used in cars are likely to be
recycled. This will drastically reduce the wasted material, compared with dirty energy
sources, which are used up and create planet-warming pollution in the process.

David Bott at the Society of Chemical Industry: “The real thing people forget is once it
has been mined, you will end up being able to reuse 80-90% of the metals. You don’t
have to go back to the planet to steal more minerals.”

In contrast, with gasoline and diesel, those resources must be constantly replenished
and burned into the air we breathe and eventually the atmosphere, where they can
contribute to trapping heat. That constant stream of carbon pollutants produced by gas-
powered cars is taking a large toll on the environment. EVs are seen as a solution due
to their expanding prevalence that is reducing air pollution throughout the world.

Skeptics of EVs, however, are quick to point out the damage that mineral mining has to
the environment as a reason why EVs are not worth an investment.

Mark Dummett, the head of business and human rights at Amnesty International: “These problems have always existed in mining. I strongly believe that this problem has
been exaggerated hugely by opponents of the energy transition, the fossil fuel lobby.”

Other experts emphasize that the carbon alternative to EVs will not mean less mineral
mining. Instead, it will mean mineral mining along with harmful carbon pollution.
Caspar Rawles, the chief data officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence: “It always
makes me laugh. OK, the mining of EV [materials] is harmful. Where do you think your
car now comes from?”

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The Issue
 Mining for electric vehicle (EV) batteries requires large amounts of minerals like
lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
 This extraction often causes environmental damage (land degradation, water
use) and raises human rights concerns, especially child labor in cobalt mines in
the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Data
 EVs use about 173 kg more minerals than petrol cars (excluding steel and
aluminum).
 Demand for lithium is expected to quadruple to 3 million tons by 2030,
potentially outstripping supply.
 However, petrol cars burn ~17,000 liters of oil over their lifetime (~12.5 tons), far
outweighing EV mineral use.
 Recycling will reduce waste: by 2030, battery material waste per EV could be as
little as 30 kg.

Recycling & Circularity
 Up to 80–90% of battery metals can be reused, unlike fossil fuels which are
consumed permanently.
 EVs therefore have the potential to become part of a circular economy, reducing
long-term extraction needs.

Comparisons
 Mining for EV batteries uses less than 0.01% of habitable land, compared to
much larger extraction for fossil fuels.
 Fossil fuel extraction (oil, iron ore, etc.) dwarfs battery mineral mining in scale
and permanence.

Caveats
 Human rights abuses exist across mining industries, not just EV batteries.
 Companies like Apple and BMW are working on “battery passports” to trace
supply chains and reduce cobalt reliance.

 Critics argue the problems are exaggerated by fossil fuel lobbyists, but
accountability in supply chains remains essential.

Verdict
 EVs do require significant mineral extraction, but overall resource use and
waste are far lower than petrol/diesel cars once recycling is factored in.
 The transition to EVs is not free of ethical or environmental challenges, but it
offers a path toward reduced long-term resource consumption.

Verdict:
 EV mineral mining has short-term challenges (environmental strain, human
rights issues) but offers long-term sustainability through recycling and reduced
overall resource use.
 Fossil fuel extraction is larger in scale, permanent, and more damaging,
with no path to circularity.