The HEV-TCP (Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Technology Collaboration Programme) of the International Energy Agency (IEA) kicked off the "Task 40, CRM4EV Critical Raw Materials for Electric Vehicles" on November 15, 2018. DI Martin Beermann (JOANNEUM RESEARCH LIFE) presented the importance of the topic from an Austrian point of view, and LIFE acts as coordinator of Austrian participation.
The objective of Task 40 is to address all key aspects of the future delivery of critical raw materials for electric vehicles, which will enable sustainable battery production and integration as a competitive advantage within the meaning of the European and Austrian Battery Initiative. The criticality of raw materials is evaluated in the light of future developments in the various thematic and research areas around electric vehicles. In particular:
future developments of the electric vehicle fleet, future technology developments in electric drive systems, new primary and secondary sources of raw materials which can be developed in the future, the development of recycling technologies for batteries and other components of electric drive systems and the environmental and social effects of extracting raw materials and possible normative requirements for compliance with certain minimum environmental and social standards in commodity-producing countries.
Task 40 currently involves eight countries and organizations: Belgium (Valuad-expert, Operating Agent), Germany (DLR), France (ifp Energies nouvelles), Korea (University of Ulsan), Austria (JOANNEUM RESEARCH), Sweden (IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute), UK (OLEV Office for Low Emission Vehicles), USA (Argonne National Laboratory).
In the next three years, six workshops are planned in the task, including in Austria.
Contact person at LIFE: Martin Beermann