The authors of the countless articles warning of the environmental prices of battery uncooked supplies are invariably “massive followers” of EVs, however they’re naturally involved that they might not be “as inexperienced as they declare.”

Oddly, these public-spirited citizen journalists by no means point out the far larger environmental impacts of fossil gas extraction, nor do they appear to contemplate the truth that e-mobility supporters are within the enterprise of lowering environmental harm, whereas the oil and gasoline business has amply demonstrated its indifference to the difficulty. As demand rises for battery uncooked supplies, EV business gamers are working to cut back the environmental prices of extraction.

Paradoxically, the truth that constructing batteries causes environmental stress might function a catalyst to make the soiled mining business clear up its act. That’s one of many conclusions of a brand new report from the Pure Assets Protection Council.

The brand new paper (which policymakers and battery business execs might need to learn in its entirety) describes the real-world environmental and social prices of mining processes. Nonetheless, in contrast to these thinly-veiled anti-EV screeds, it presents detailed suggestions for addressing the issues.

“Mineral mines can contaminate surrounding waters and ecosystems, jeopardize the well being and security of native communities and employees, and run roughshod over sacred Indigenous lands,” writes writer Jordan Brinn. “However EV batteries didn’t create this drawback, and are removed from the one merchandise that require mined supplies. Minerals are in…cell telephones, dwelling home equipment, and even…the buttons and zippers on pants and jackets.”

Brinn addresses the EV-bashers’ primary logical fallacy head-on: “EVs will at all times be a extra environmentally pleasant selection than fossil fuel-powered automobiles just because they don’t depend on steady fossil gas extraction, which has destroyed aquifers, polluted the air, and harmed the well being of so many individuals over the previous century. In 2021 alone, the US transportation sector used 4.86 billion barrels of oil. As soon as this oil is burned, it’s gone without end. Conversely, an previous EV battery is actually a small mineral reserve full of extraordinarily concentrated and high-quality supplies like lithium and nickel that may be reused repeatedly.”

“Transitioning to EVs creates a possibility to cut back long-term reliance on extractive industries that can by no means be an choice for fossil gas automobiles,” Brinn continues. “We have to mine minerals for EVs, however we have to do it proper. As we ramp up the manufacturing and processing of minerals to fulfill clear vitality wants over the approaching years, regulators and business might want to implement new methods and insurance policies, equivalent to improved waste administration, cleaner extraction applied sciences, and group engagement and consent for siting that can scale back the impacts of mining as a lot as doable.”

The NRDC paper focuses on the best, and most obvious, technique to restrict the harm from battery provide chains: utilizing much less minerals. “Whereas there are lots of actions that can scale back the dangerous impacts of extracting minerals, these harms can’t be absolutely mitigated as a result of extraction inherently requires some stage of vitality, land and chemical use.”

Brinn notes that the US authorities has taken steps towards constructing environmentally accountable EV battery provide chains via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation and Inflation Discount Act, however says “not sufficient of the funding on this laws—or strategic planning—is at present going towards lowering the quantity of minerals we’d like.”

The NRDC identifies three technique areas for constructing a lower-impact and extra round battery provide chain:

1. Reducing reliance on difficult-to-access essential minerals via technological enhancements. The DOE’s Superior Supplies and Manufacturing Applied sciences Workplace ought to direct funding towards enhancing materials effectivity in EV battery manufacturing; the EPA ought to make batteries a selected class in prize applications equivalent to its Inexperienced Chemistry Problem and within the ecolabel certifications it funds; and DOE ought to proceed to award grants via BIL to business scaling of improved battery chemistries.
2. Extending EV battery life spans via second-life purposes. For instance, EPA and the DOT ought to create a separate class for used batteries inside their hazardous waste rules to cut back pointless obstacles and prices to reuse (and recycling); EPA ought to implement nationwide battery labeling necessities primarily based on the International Battery Alliance’s Battery Passport via the Useful resource Conservation and Restoration Act; and DOE’s Automobile Expertise Workplace ought to discover alternatives to broaden funding for battery well being testing and second-use analysis and business scaling.
3. Closing the loop: recycling, end-of-life, and recycled supplies markets. DOE ought to broaden funding for the ReCell Middle’s analysis on battery recycling strategies that decrease impacts and maximize restoration price; the State Division ought to embody batteries as one of many subsequent sectors of focus for the First Movers Coalition to encourage public-private collaboration on battery provide chain points; EPA ought to set restoration price targets for battery recycling like these within the EU Sustainable Batteries legislation and require that every one EV batteries be recycled; and DOE ought to prioritize excessive restoration efficiencies in its choice standards for BIL grants.

“All of those actions that assist extra environment friendly use of minerals and reduce the necessity for mining should happen in parallel with much-needed mining reform,” writes Brinn. “The duty earlier than us is to supply the minerals we’d like for a cleaner economic system in one of the best ways doable in order that we will, as soon as and for all, put the harms from fossil fuels within the rearview mirror.”

Supply: NRDC