DS-JAN24-PG16_Layout 1 05/01/2024 13:41 Page 1
FEATURE
POWER
POWERING THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES
As we move towards EV-only roads, lithium extraction will play an important role in manufacturing batteries. However, the safe recovery of lithium-ion will be the real driving force in powering the next generation of EVs, as Andrew Keith, director of load bank manufacturer Power Prove, explains
2030, largely due to the increase in EV sales. As the world’s lightest metal, lithium is an ideal choice for lightweight batteries with high energy density that are suited to quick charging. The batteries also contain small amounts of other heavy metals such as cobalt. Lithium-ion batteries will therefore play an
D
essential role in the UK government’s pledge to ban the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035. But, producing them is not without its issues.
DEMAND OUTWEIGHS SUPPLY Despite an estimated 88 million tonnes of lithium on Earth and only around 8kg needed for each battery, shortages are predicted for as soon as 2025. This is because only one quarter of the planet’s lithium is extractable using current technology, according to the US Geological Survey. The findings also show that, in 2022, worldwide lithium consumption hit 134,000 tonnes while production lagged at 130,000 tonnes. This means that, even before roads are filled with EVs, lithium demand already outweighs supply.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCING Although EVs are billed as a greener alternative to petrol and diesel cars, lithium-ion mining is
emand for batteries is growing. In fact the lithium-ion battery supply chain is in line to increase by up to 30% each year until
surrounded by sustainability issues. The process is highly water intensive, threatening the water supply to nearby communities, such as in Latin America. This is the case with the ‘lithium triangle’,
a region encompassing northern Argentina, northern Chile and southern Bolivia, which contains two thirds of the planet’s lithium reserves. It is one of the driest regions on Earth and parts such as Bolivia are also among the world’s poorest. Consequently, lithium extraction not only has negative environmental impacts such as biodiversity loss, but also threatens the livelihoods of already poor communities who rely on nearby water supplies.
SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS In addition to this, much of lithium’s extracted lithium-ion is refined in countries such as China, which has the skills and infrastructure to process it. As well as refining imported lithium, China is also one of the world’s largest producers, making it responsible for up to 90% of the global lithium battery supply chain. However, since China is also a world leader in terms of the numbers of EVs bought nationally, heavy reliance on Chinese lithium could cause supply chain issues. The US is increasingly using its lithium
reserves to reduce dependency on China. However, Europe’s limited lithium supply
16 DESIGN SOLUTIONS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2024 makes this option less viable for the UK.
THE SOLUTIONS The best way to grow the EV market enough to reduce reliance on internal combustion engines is by using innovative technology to recycle pre-existing batteries. However, while lithium and other heavy metals
present in EV batteries can be recovered and reused, the recovery process can be dangerous as the batteries produce small charges even when they appear depleted. To ensure the safe removal of these metals,
batteries can be connected to a load bank, a machine used to test power sources by simulating electrical loads. The battery’s capacity can then be assessed and discharged, dissipating surplus electrical load. Load bank technology is evolving alongside
EVs, however, ensuring lithium-ion can continue to be recycled. EV battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), with higher capacity vehicles often able to travel further on a single charge. As EV range is constantly improving, custom load banks suited to higher kWh requirements can be created, allowing discharge testing on larger capacity batteries.
Power Prove
T: 0116 249 1722
www.powerprove.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
