Making the Most of Electric Vehicle Batteries

The report argues that the US can significantly reduce its reliance on newly mined minerals for electric vehicle (EV) batteries by prioritizing energy efficiency, right-sizing battery range, and implementing robust recycling policies. Through a 'Very Low Demand Scenario,' the authors demonstrate that newly mined lithium needs could be reduced by 48% from 2025 to 2050, saving 1.5 million metric tons of material. The analysis emphasizes that while electrification is essential for decarbonization, a systems-wide approach—including investments in public transit and rail to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT)—is necessary to create a sustainable and just supply chain.

• Implementing ambitious policies, investments, and industry leadership could reduce newly mined lithium requirements by 48% between 2025 and 2050, which is equivalent to 1.5 million metric tons or 180 million typical EV batteries.
• Increasing EV energy efficiency by 20% is the single most effective strategy for reducing overall mineral needs from 2025 to 2050, resulting in a 22% decrease in lithium demand.
• Right-sizing vehicle range to an average of 275 miles can reduce overall mineral demand by 20% compared to the baseline scenario.
• A 35% reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) through increased mobility options and smarter land use would lead to a 15% decrease in cumulative lithium demand from 2025 to 2050.
• High-efficiency recycling processes can recover over 90% of lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which can then be used to manufacture new batteries and offset the need for newly mined materials.
• In a 'Very Low Demand Scenario,' recycled content could meet 59% of lithium demand by 2050, compared to only 26% in the baseline scenario where lithium recovery rates are lower.
• Demand reduction strategies for lithium also significantly impact other minerals; they could reduce the demand for newly mined cobalt and nickel by nearly 40% from 2020 to 2050.
• The shift toward lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which contains no nickel or cobalt, is expected to result in LFP representing about 35% of future cathodes by 2050.
• The report identifies a trend where the average EV model available in the US is becoming less efficient over time, with the average efficiency moving from 30 kWh per 100 miles in 2017 to 37 kWh per 100 miles in 2024.

APA

Dunn, J., Anair, D., Shen, K. X., & Reichmuth, D. (2024). Making the Most of Electric Vehicle Batteries. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/making-most-ev-batteries-report_0.pdf

Chicago

Dunn, Jessica, Don Anair, Kevin X. Shen, and Dave Reichmuth. Making the Most of Electric Vehicle Batteries. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2024. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/making-most-ev-batteries-report_0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Dunn |first1=Jessica |last2=Anair |first2=Don |last3=Shen |first3=Kevin X. |last4=Reichmuth |first4=Dave |title=Making the Most of Electric Vehicle Batteries |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=December 2024 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/making-most-ev-batteries-report_0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{dunn2024making, author = {Dunn, Jessica and Anair, Don and Shen, Kevin X. and Reichmuth, Dave}, title = {{Making the Most of Electric Vehicle Batteries}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/making-most-ev-batteries-report_0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }