T&E study: Battery recycling could supply a quarter of electric cars in Europe

Europe could reduce its dependence on imported battery minerals by up to a quarter by 2030 through recycling. This is the conclusion of a new study by T&E. By the end of the decade, batteries for up to 2.4 million electric cars could be built using materials from old batteries and waste from large factories. The EU and the UK can only exploit the recycling potential if they secure projects that are on the brink.

According to the study, recycling used battery cells and production waste could supply 14 percent of the lithium, 16 percent of the nickel, 17 percent of the manganese, and 25 percent of the cobalt that Europe will need for electric cars by 2030. These values could grow significantly. Europe has the potential to become almost self-sufficient in cobalt for the production of electric cars by 2040.

“The crises in the automotive industry and at Northvolt show that the EU must finally act. A Europe with a closed battery value chain is possible. Through recycling, we can not only end our dependence on critical imports but also create a foundation for building millions of electric cars sustainably in Europe, thereby securing our industry for the future," says Sebastian Bock, Managing Director of T&E Germany.

The recovery of battery materials will also replace the need for primary ores. According to the study, recycling battery minerals in Europe could avoid the construction of twelve new mines worldwide by 2040: four lithium, three nickel, four cobalt, and one manganese mine. This could also potentially reduce the negative impacts of mines on water, soil, and biodiversity.

Recycling in Europe not only reduces the mining and import of raw materials but could also reduce the carbon footprint of lithium procurement by almost a fifth (19 percent) compared to extracting in Australia and refining in China. The European power grid is cleaner, according to the environmental umbrella organization.

Many projects are on the brink

However, Europe must expand its recycling industry to benefit from the economic and sustainable advantages. According to the study, almost half of the announced European recycling capacities are on hold, or it is uncertain whether they will be realized. T&E urges the EU and the United Kingdom to urgently support recycling projects through better policy frameworks and funding programs.