The Rise of Electric Vehicles


What started out as a concept with many opponents and skeptics, has finally reached a turning point in our way of thinking about transportation in the future. Electric vehicles, though still largely outnumbered by “conventional” cars are steadily rising in numbers thanks to overall costs coming down for consumers, and the expansion of infrastructure to support electric vehicles.

One of the problems still facing electric vehicles, and this is becoming apparent now that the first EVs are getting older, is that of the longevity of the battery. For new buyers, this is not as significant a problem as these purchasers are getting the vehicle in its peak condition. However, EVs coming on to the second-hand market are faced with limitations to range and reliability not faced by conventional second hand cars.

In addition to a lower resale value, the cost of EV’s is still higher than combustion engine vehicles or even electric hybrid vehicles. The reason for these higher costs is the batteries that are used in the vehicles. Electric hybrid vehicles do face some of the same costs, and do attract a premium because of the use of the additional technology, but all-electric vehicles still have added costs when compared.

As electric vehicles – and their batteries – get bigger and offer more range, the effects on resources will be felt significantly in the mining industry. One of the key components of the batteries is lithium, a substance found primarily in Latin America. Common in batteries found in everyday items such as smartphones, lithium is one of the primary resources used in EV batteries. To put the scale in context, each EV battery can have upwards of 9lbs of lithium used to create it.


As our desire for electric vehicles grows, so too will the demand for metals and the materials that form the basis for these components. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The largest solar farms in the world

Image
Solar energy is gaining in popularity. Most people know solar power as the rooftop panels that are being installed on more and more houses; or projects like Elon Musk’s Solar Roof. However, there are many different applications for solar and many ways energy can be generated using the power of the sun. Electricity is the most common use, but solar energy can also be used to heat water for use in the home, or a swimming pool, etc. Solar arrays can also be used to redirect the beams of the sun to a central point which is then converted to heat energy to drive turbines, much like a coal plant would use a burner – only this time there are no emissions, and just clean energy. A large array of solar panels, be it photovoltaic or thermal, is called a solar farm. Here we take a look at a few of the biggest in the world. Tengger Desert Solar Park Located in China, the world’s largest solar farm uses solar PV panels to generate 1,500MW of electricity. This plant covers 43 square kil...
Read more

Water Markets, Privatization and Deregulation

Image
Energy Expert  To bring demand and supply into balance, water markets are necessary. Under a market system, prices are not regulated, but are determined by the free exchange of water rights. In most countries where water is scarce or costly to access, systems of rights for water have emerged either through custom or through laws and regulations. The rights define the amount of water to which the owner is entitled. With rights well defined, water markets allow owners to make better decisions about the water they use. They can decide for themselves whether to use the water or trade the right. The owner of the right may choose to use the water himself when the market price is low. In fact, if the price is low enough the owner may even decide to enter the market and purchase additional water. When prices are high, however, the owner may find it cost effective to conserve water and sell it. While water right markets are emerging all over the world, they are still in their infa...
Read more

The Global Nuclear Report

Image
Nuclear power has been a source of much contention for some time now and the argument of whether it should be harnessed to its fullest potential has been hotly debated. Whichever side you stand on, there is no denying that having a solid understanding of the ins and outs of nuclear power is essential for getting to grips with the global energy industry. Especially now that it looks like nuclear power seems to be creeping back on to the world’s stage in various different forms. While the West appears to be focusing its attention on revamping existing nuclear facilities, the big Asian powers are in the process of building new ones. Japan and South Korea, in particular, are quickly climbing the nuclear energy ladder by producing new reactors and developing an unrivalled expertise in the area. Elsewhere in the world, Russia is currently exploring the possibilities of long-term uranium supply contracts – especially with Kazakhstan who is currently the world’s number one producer ...
Read more