wiredInUSA June 2019

Copper concerns

Sarah Maryssael, Tesla’s global supply manager for battery metals, told a mining industry meeting in Washington DC that the company foresees a shortage of several minerals vital to electric vehicle production. A Tesla spokesperson said Maryssael’s comments were industry- specific, and referred to long-term supply challenges that might occur. Tesla’s particular concerns are securing enough nickel, copper and lithium for its future needs. The company is working

to lower the amount of cobalt used in its batteries because of the controversy surrounding cobalt mining practices in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Electric cars use twice as much copper as conventional cars, but other industries are also driving up copper demand. Smart home systems such as Alphabet’s Nest thermostat and Amazon’s Alexa personal assistant will, estimates Reuters, consume around 1.5 million tons of copper by 2030, compared to just 38,000 tons today.