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Can the UK Produce Enough EV Batteries?
Reading time 5 minutes
Categories Automotive Industry » Electric Vehicles (EVs) »
There’s no doubt about it, electric vehicles (EVs) are more popular than ever before.
Last year, almost 400,000 were sold in the UK, the highest amount ever. Accounting for around 25% of the market share, this amount is only set to grow.
The demand for EVs is clearly there, but will the batteries be?
It’s been reported that the UK may struggle to produce enough batteries to meet the demand, and in this article, The Windscreen Company will explore this issue in more detail.
One of the main issues when it comes to the demand for EVs is whether or not we have enough lithium to make the batteries.
Lithium is a chemical that is used to power batteries that are used in a whole host of products. This includes mobile phones, vapes, laptops and electric cars.
When you consider how many household electronic objects lithium is used in, it’s no surprise that it’s become such a sought-after commodity. And as it’s also a finite resource, once it has been used up there is no way of getting more.
With this in mind, it’s no surprise there has been some concern regarding whether there is enough lithium on the planet to create the necessary lithium batteries for electric cars.
However, there is likely to be plenty of lithium on Earth, with accessibility set to be a bigger issue than availability. It’s currently predicted that there are 88 million tonnes of lithium on Earth. This amount is likely to increase as technology develops because it doesn’t take into account the lithium that the current tech cannot find. For instance, just a decade ago it was predicted there were only 13 million tonnes of lithium on the planet until new technology told us otherwise.
88 million tonnes of lithium is enough to power a staggering 11 billion electric cars. Currently, there are around 1.4 billion cars, of every type, in the world (most are in China), so it’s clear that the quantity of lithium is not an issue.
It’s predicted that to meet battery demand by 2030, around 250,000-450,000 tonnes of lithium is going to need to be mined each year. However, the latest figures say that the world is currently mining 105 tonnes per year, meaning it’s well short of its target.
While difficulties mining lithium is a global issue, the UK also has some of its own specific problems.
Currently, the country is lagging well behind other European nations in terms of its battery-building capacity and this was brought into stark focus at the start of this year when EV battery builder Britishvolt collapsed.
The UK is also struggling to attract overseas battery makers and gigafactories to the country, primarily because manufacturers prefer to set up shop in EU countries after Brexit. A recent example of this was Tesla opting to open a gigafactory in Berlin in 2022, selecting the destination over the UK for this precise reason. And currently, there are 35 other factories across the EU dedicated to specifically building EV batteries. This includes facilities in Germany, France, Poland, Sweden and more.
Another issue the UK is facing is that while in the past it has sourced many of its vehicle parts from Asia, and specifically China, from 2026 this will get a lot more difficult. This is because the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) which was agreed between the UK and the EU will come into force. This agreement states that all batteries must be built in either the UK or EU for the vehicle itself to not face costly tariffs.
But it’s not all doom and gloom.
A partnership between mining company Imerys and lithium battery manufacturer British Lithium was unveiled earlier this year, announcing that a new lithium mine would open in Cornwall. It’s predicted that, when fully operational, the mine will be able to provide enough lithium to power 500,000 EV batteries per year. However, it will not open its doors until 2028.
Another thing to consider when discussing whether or not the UK will be able to produce enough EV batteries is the recent announcement that the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be delayed.
Initially, the country was set to introduce this ban in 2030, however, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pushed back the deadline to 2035 earlier this year. He described the move as ‘sensible’ while stating that it would not impact the UK’s attempts to reach Net Zero by 2050. You can read more about this announcement here in our previous blog on the subject.
While delaying the deadline is not currently expected to slow the demand for electric vehicles, it gives the country more breathing space to make sure there are enough batteries being produced. As to whether production will really be ready by then to meet the demand, only time will tell.
For more than 25 years, the team here at The Windscreen Company has provided a leading electric and hybrid windscreen repair and replacement service, helping to keep drivers across the West Midlands and South East safe on the road. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, our expert specialists can provide leading windscreen services, including windscreen recalibration. To find out more about what we do, get in touch with our team today.
The Windscreen Company, has over 20 years of experience in windscreen repair and replacement. Since 1998, they have been at the forefront of industry innovation, leveraging the latest technology to ensure customer safety and satisfaction.
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