Minerals Used in Electric Cars vs. Conventional Cars

Copper is one of the most important mineral in the world and Copper prices are traditionally considered as the barometer of the global economy. As the world transitions to everything green, the demand for copper would only increase. One estimate puts the global copper consumption will double by 2035 in order for the world to meet zero-emission energy goals. However the transition to clean energy would bring new headaches for the global economy especially in terms of the need for critical minerals. For instance, growing consumer demand for EVs leads to higher demand for minerals. According to the IEA, a typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional internal combustion engine car.

The following chart shows the minerals used in EVs compared to conventional cars:

Click to enlarge

Source: The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions, IEA

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