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The authors contend that the boom in energy transition mineral (ETM) extraction threatens Indigenous Peoples and biodiversity, noting that 54% of known ETM projects are on Indigenous lands. They criticize U.S. mining laws from 1872 and the Biden administration's support for the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada as contradictory to Indigenous rights. To reduce reliance on extraction, the document advocates for a circular economy hierarchy prioritizing demand reduction, reuse, and high-standard recycling, specifically favoring direct recycling over pyrometallurgy.

The report argues that battery minerals are not like oil because their demand can be managed through six key solutions: changing chemistries, increasing energy density, recycling, extending battery lifetimes, improving vehicle efficiency, and enhancing mobility efficiency. Under a 'continued trend' scenario, virgin demand for lithium, nickel, and cobalt is projected to peak in the mid-2030s. Under an 'accelerated trend' scenario, net-zero mineral demand is achievable by 2050, turning mining into a one-off effort. The report highlights China's leadership in recycling and suggests that the Global South can leverage used vehicle imports to build its own recycling industries. Ultimately, the transition to a circular battery loop offers a path from oil dependence to circular energy independence.

The report identifies significant barriers to grid battery deployment in South Africa, including an outdated electricity sector framework, insufficient understanding of battery capabilities, and economic challenges related to capital access and revenue stacking. It highlights the potential for local value chain development in lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow batteries, while warning of environmental risks in raw material extraction and the danger of technological lock-in. The authors propose a series of priority actions, including the alignment of national planning documents, the establishment of a market for ancillary services, and the implementation of pragmatic local content requirements in procurement.

The report analyzes the global transition of road transport to electric vehicles, noting that while passenger EV adoption is on an exponential growth trajectory, freight and emerging markets face significant hurdles. Key barriers include insufficient charging infrastructure, power grid limitations, and high total cost of ownership (TCO) for heavy-duty trucks. The document emphasizes the need for a shift from demand-side subsidies to supply-side policies, such as prioritized permitting for battery production and direct funding for charging networks, to sustain the transition toward net-zero emissions.

The document analyzes Gogoro's transition from a startup to a global provider of light EV battery swapping. It attributes the company's success to three system-level innovations: the creation of a swappable battery standard adopted by multiple manufacturers, the implementation of new business models such as battery-as-a-service and virtual power plants, and the development of a physical 'swap-and-go' platform. The case study highlights Gogoro's role as a catalyst in Taiwan, where its batteries power 90 percent of electric scooters, and its strategic expansion into markets like India, South Korea, and the Philippines.

The Great Lakes region is well-positioned for the EV transition due to its automotive history and R&D capacity, but faces competition from the 'Battery Belt' in the Deep South. While the region has significant midstream and downstream capacity, it lacks comprehensive state-level industrial strategies, particularly regarding battery end-of-life mandates and recycling incentives. The document argues that states must coordinate on strategic roadmaps, workforce retraining, and clean energy infrastructure to avoid economic disruption in 'powertrain communities' specialized in internal combustion engine (ICE) components.

The report analyzes India's vulnerability in the lithium supply chain, characterized by high import dependence and geographical concentration of production and processing in China. It forecasts a significant surge in lithium demand between 2022 and 2030, driven primarily by electric vehicles and grid storage. To mitigate risks, the report recommends a multi-pronged strategy: streamlining domestic exploration in states like Jammu and Kashmir, forming strategic partnerships with mineral-rich nations such as Australia and Argentina, leveraging state-owned enterprises like KABIL to support private sector offtake, and incentivizing the development of domestic lithium refineries and recycling infrastructure.

The U.S. electric school bus (ESB) market is expanding, driven by the EPA's Clean School Bus Program and state-level mandates. As of December 2022, 895 districts had committed to 5,612 ESBs. While upfront costs remain three to four times higher than diesel buses, ESBs offer lower operational costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and potential grid resilience through bidirectional charging. The market currently features 24 models across Type A, C, and D buses, with a growing emphasis on repowering existing fleets to reduce costs and waste. Successful deployment requires coordinated planning between districts, utilities, and manufacturers to manage charging infrastructure and specialized maintenance training.

The document advocates for the Biden administration to use Phase II of its NEPA rulemaking to prioritize environmental justice, climate change considerations, public engagement, and tribal sovereignty. It argues that restoring NEPA regulations will provide the necessary guidance for building resilient clean energy infrastructure—such as wind and solar farms and transmission lines—while protecting marginalized communities and reducing litigation risks.

The document outlines five critical policy elements—supply chain traceability, material transport and storage, manufacturing and production, recycling, and reusing—necessary to transition from a linear to a circular EV battery economy. It highlights that current economic conditions often make virgin material extraction cheaper than recycling, necessitating government intervention to catalyze investment and standardize regulations. The brief emphasizes the need for federal guidelines in the US to replace the current piecemeal state-level approach and suggests aligning with global best practices to ensure the economic viability of battery repurposing and recycling.

The document outlines the EV battery supply chain—divided into upstream (mining), midstream (processing/refining), downstream (assembly), and end-of-life—highlighting China's current dominance. It discusses the environmental and human rights risks associated with mining critical minerals like lithium and cobalt, and details US legislative tools such as the Inflation Reduction Act designed to 'de-risk' the supply chain and foster domestic economic growth.

The document examines the implications of India's discovery of 5.9 million tons of lithium in Jammu and Kashmir, arguing that while it could bolster India's energy independence and EV goals, it risks exacerbating internal communal tensions and international conflict with Pakistan. It highlights environmental threats to the Chenab River watershed and suggests that the U.S. should promote global mining governance, technological alternatives like sodium-ion batteries, and demand-reduction policies to mitigate these risks.

The report examines the synergy between decentralised renewable energy (DRE) and electric mobility (e-mobility) in rural and peri-urban areas of emerging economies. It argues that DRE systems, such as solar mini-grids, can overcome electricity access barriers and provide a sustainable power source for electric vehicles (EVs), which in turn can act as mobile batteries to balance DRE systems. Through 13 case studies and an expert interview, the document highlights the socio-economic benefits of this transition—including reduced operational costs for transport operators, job creation, and improved access to healthcare—while identifying critical barriers such as high capital expenditure (CAPEX), lack of supportive regulatory frameworks, and supply chain disruptions. The report provides specific recommendations for project developers, policymakers, and investors to scale these solutions through local R&D, blended finance, and gender-lens investment.

The report outlines the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning India's trucking sector to zero-emissions vehicles (ZETs), specifically battery-electric and fuel cell electric trucks. It highlights the potential for significant reductions in logistics costs, oil expenditures, and carbon emissions, while proposing four strategic pathways—policy action, charging infrastructure deployment, technology/manufacturing localization, and innovative financing—to accelerate adoption and establish India as a low-carbon manufacturing hub.

The briefing highlights how the Delhi government, in collaboration with RMI and the Dialogue Development Commission of Delhi, accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for final-mile deliveries. Through a combination of fiscal incentives, a technology-agnostic charging infrastructure strategy, and the Deliver Electric Delhi pilot, EV sales in Delhi rose from 3.3% to 10% of new vehicle registrations within just over a year. The program demonstrates that electrifying delivery fleets can significantly reduce PM and NOx emissions and lower fuel costs for operators.

The report examines the Indian EV ecosystem, noting success in incentivizing two- and three-wheel vehicle demand while highlighting the need to scale four-wheel vehicles and buses. It identifies significant growth potential in domestic battery manufacturing to reduce reliance on China, though it warns that insufficient charging infrastructure, consumer financing gaps, supply chain vulnerabilities, and labor skill gaps remain critical obstacles to scaling growth.

The report examines India's transition to electric mobility, highlighting the success of demand-side incentives like FAME II for two- and three-wheelers. It identifies critical investment gaps in charging infrastructure and battery manufacturing, while discussing the potential of battery swapping and the risks posed by global supply chain dependencies on China and other mineral-rich nations. The analysis emphasizes the need for binding targets, improved consumer financing, and workforce retraining to ensure a competitive and just transition.

An executive summary by the Union of Concerned Scientists finding that the average new battery electric vehicle in the US produces over 50% less lifetime global warming pollution than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. While EV manufacturing is more carbon-intensive due to battery production, the operational emissions savings quickly offset this 'debt,' with a mean breakeven point of 21,300 miles for cars. The report advocates for cleaner electricity grids, battery recycling, and increased EV accessibility to accelerate climate benefits.

The Union of Concerned Scientists finds that electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States produce significantly lower lifetime global warming emissions than gasoline vehicles, with the average EV reducing total lifetime emissions by 52% for sedans and 57% for pickup trucks. While EV manufacturing is more carbon-intensive due to battery production, the operational savings quickly offset this 'debt,' with breakeven points occurring between 17,500 and 21,300 miles. The report emphasizes that the emissions benefit of EVs increases as the electricity grid decarbonizes and recommends policies to accelerate renewable energy deployment, improve battery circularity, and increase vehicle efficiency.

The report evaluates the integration of small-format electric vehicles (EVs) with rural minigrids, finding that while EVs can be cost-competitive with petrol alternatives, their success depends on high vehicle utilization and business models tailored to local needs. A Nigeria pilot using a two-wheeler leasing model showed promise, whereas an India pilot using a battery leasing model for three-wheelers failed due to high operational costs and drivers charging via the subsidized grid. Technoeconomic modeling indicates that EV charging can lower minigrid tariffs, particularly when charging occurs during daytime solar production, though the impact is modest unless fleet utilization is significantly increased.