Electric vehicles (EVs) are a primary method to reach a net zero transportation sector, but in addition to CO2 emissions, overall sustainability is becoming an increased focus point. However, sustainability is a very complex topic that does not tend to deal with absolutes as many factors are involved. There are concerns about the sourcing of minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and others to manufacture battery cells, but the construction and materials used to make the battery pack should also be considered. With IDTechEx forecasting a 5.5-fold increase in EV battery demand from 2023 to 2034, the impact of materials on sustainable battery production and how batteries are dealt with at the end of their life becomes increasingly important
5-fold increase in EV battery demand from 2023 to 2034, the impact of materials on sustainable battery production and how batteries are dealt with at the end of their life becomes increasingly important
Another key focus for the EV industry, which may seem unrelated at first, is the need to apply fire protection materials to prevent or delay thermal runaway propagating between cells and eventually outside of the battery pack. IDTechEx predicts this market to experience a 16.1% CAGR from 2023 to 2034. The obvious reason for this is to improve the fire safety of these vehicles in the rare cases where they ignite. The huge variety of battery designs that have been seen on the market leads to a similarly broad range of fire protection materials employed. These materials themselves can be more or less sustainable, but also, how they are employed can play a factor in how sustainable the EV battery industry will be
These materials themselves can be more or less sustainable, but also, how they are employed can play a factor in how sustainable the EV battery industry will be
Fire protection materials: Application and sustainability

Source prnewswire