The recent US Senate hearing on critical minerals had a lot to unpack. It was interesting to see a bipartisan understanding that the push for EVs is happening and will continue to happen. The intersections of critical mineral sourcing, national security, environmental justice, and battery recycling are key issues that could slow the progress toward the Administration’s goals around EV deployment in the country.
The mining use – where to get the materials, how to mine in the U.S. in an environmentally conscious way and with the buy-in from local residents – is going to be a major sticking point. Of course, in these panels you have your full-on advocates, your maybes, and your naysayers. The question is how everyone can get together to achieve the goals?
I am personally curious about the recycling possibilities. “Recycling could meet roughly 25-30% of the demand for the critical materials… 95% of the minerals used in electric vehicle batteries could be recycled.” That could make a big difference right there.
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