The time dimension and lithium resource constraints for electric vehicles
Journal article, 2012

The availability of lithium resources for a transition to electric vehicles is a vital topic for transport technology strategy. Recent debate seems to have concluded that there is ‘sufficient’ lithium available, but for the purposes of a technological transition, time matters. It is not simply the quantity of resource that is relevant - the flow rate into society may be a much more difficult constraint and transient events have disrupted heavily concentrated material supply chains in the past. Furthermore, critical assumptions such as the presence of recycling systems may not be justified without policy support. Complacency is therefore not an appropriate stance for a robust evaluation of material risks in the case of lithium.

Electric

Battery

Lithium

Transition

Transport

Vehicle

Author

Duncan Kushnir

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Björn Sandén

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Environmental Systems Analysis

Resources Policy

0301-4207 (ISSN)

Vol. 37 1 93-103

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Production

Energy

Subject Categories

Other Environmental Engineering

Other Materials Engineering

Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified

DOI

10.1016/j.resourpol.2011.11.003

More information

Created

10/7/2017