The European Parliament passed groundbreaking legislation [last] month which, for the first time, sets environmental protections throughout the entire life cycle of batteries — including the sourcing of raw materials, production and recycling. EU Environment Ministers are expected to rubberstamp it in July. But even then the legislative battle will not be over: implementing rules still need to be worked out and, already, green groups have cause for concern.
T&E said that while batteries are already far more sustainable than burning oil in our cars, they will soon have to be even better. “New rules on carbon footprint, recycling and due diligence checks, provided they are properly implemented, will mean batteries sold in Europe will set the standard for the rest of the world,” said Alex Keynes, clean vehicles manager at T&E.
New EU recycling targets will extend the climate advantage of batteries over fossil fuels even further: from 2027 battery-makers will need to recover 90% of nickel and cobalt used, rising to 95% in 2031. They would also need to recover 50% of lithium used in 2027, rising to 80% in 2031.But the effectiveness of the EU Batteries Regulation will, in practice, depend on the implementing rules that are to be agreed next.
That could also disincentivise frontrunner battery-makers which are investing in their own electricity generation or in new renewable power under long-term purchase agreements. T&E and its German member Deutsche UmwelthilfeThe draft carbon footprint rules could also perversely incentivise bigger, heavier vehicles with higher energy consumption.
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