Critical Raw Materials Recovery from EV Batteries
A Comprehensive Material Flow Analysis of Europe's Recycling Value Chain
A.L.B. Perello-Y-Bestard (TU Delft - Technology, Policy and Management)
José Mogollón – Mentor (Universiteit Leiden)
Yingjie Fan – Mentor (Universiteit Leiden)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
The energy transition relies heavily on lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), which are crucial for electrifying transportation and supporting renewable energy integration. However, the concentration of LIB production in China and other countries poses supply chain risks for the European Union. To mitigate these risks, the EU has introduced circularity targets as part of the 2023 Battery Directive. Despite the growing focus on these targets, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding their feasibility and the comprehensive tracking of other strategic materials. This study addresses these challenges and forecasts the circularity of critical raw materials in European EV batteries by 2040. Following a detailed review of LIB recycling processes and Europe’s recycling capacities, the study performs a bottom‐up assessment of material recovery efforts, evaluating the feasibility of meeting the EU’s circularity targets.