Electric vehicle boom could lead to lithium shortage, study warns
According to researchers from East China Normal University in Shanghai and Lund University in Sweden, current plans to expand lithium production won't be enough to meet rising global needs.
Europe is projected to face the biggest gap. While EU production could reach 325,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent annually by 2030, demand is expected to soar to 792,000 tons - more than double the supply.
Study co-author Qifan Xia described lithium as being as important today as petrol was during the Industrial Revolution. He said that while global lithium reserves are substantial, they are unevenly spread across countries, posing major challenges to meeting rising demand.
Lithium is mainly used in lithium-ion batteries, such as those found in smartphones, laptops and electric cars.
Europe depends on imports
Europe currently depends almost entirely on imports, with key suppliers including Chile, Australia and China. Several pilot projects are under way - but the continent is unlikely to become self-sufficient.
The United States and China also face shortfalls, though less severe. By 2030, US production could cover up to 90% of demand. China's production could reach 1.1 million tons, which would still fall short of its projected demand of 1.3 million tons.
To help ease the shortage, the study recommends expanding production while also reducing lithium use. Potential solutions include new battery technologies that require little or no lithium, such as sodium-ion batteries, which are already being used in some cars in China.
Without urgent action, the report warns, supply constraints could derail global climate and energy transition goals.
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