A new study has warned that Europe, China and the United States may not produce enough lithium to meet future electric vehicle (EV) battery demand. The research, conducted by East China Normal University and Sweden’s Lund University, highlights a looming supply crisis.
Even if domestic production of lithium rises tenfold by 2030, researchers say it will still fall short. Without rapid technological advances or significantly increased imports, critical climate and energy targets may be delayed.
Lithium, mainly obtained through mining, is essential for powering EV batteries. As EVs grow in popularity, so too does the demand for lithium. In the first five months of this year, battery electric vehicles made up 20.9 per cent of new car sales, up from 16.1 per cent last year.
The study estimates that Europe alone could need 792,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2030. However, current and planned projects may only deliver 325,000 metric tons.
The authors suggest possible solutions, including promoting public transport instead of personal EVs, and developing batteries that use less or no lithium.
Portugal is the EU’s only lithium-producing country.
Experts say the lithium sector could create hundreds of thousands of jobs across mining, refining, battery production, and recycling. However, strong policy support and clear investor signals will be vital to build Europe’s role in the global lithium supply chain.
