A new report commissioned by the International Copper Association (ICA) finds that the growing market for EVs will significantly increase demand for copper over the next decade. According to “Copper Intensity in the Electrification of Transport and the Integration of Energy Storage,” EVs use a substantial amount of copper in their batteries, and in the windings and rotors used in electric motors. A single car can have up to six kilometers of copper wiring. The metal is also required for busbars, used to connect modules and cells in battery packs, and in charging infrastructure. Whereas an ICE vehicle requires up to 23 kg of copper, the report found that a hybrid vehicle uses 40 kg, a PHEV uses 60 kg, and a battery EV 83 kg. A battery-electric bus can use a whopping 224-369 kg of Cu, depending on the size of the battery. Solar photovoltaic systems also rely on considerable quantities of copper. “Copper has the highest conductivity of any non-precious metal, and plays an important role in all energy production, but it is particularly important for future sustainable technology applications such as electric vehicles,” said Colin Bennett, Market Analysis and Outreach, ICA. “Copper is itself a sustainable material, as it is 100% recyclable without loss of properties.” “The demand for electric vehicles is forecast to increase significantly over the next ten years,” said Franco Gonzalez, Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, who co-authored the study. “Our research predicts this increase will raise copper demand for electric cars and buses from 185,000 tons in 2017 to 1.74 million tons in 2027. That’s a ninefold increase. On top of this, each electric vehicle charger will add 0.7 kg of copper and if they are fast chargers, they can add up to 8 kg of copper each.”
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GKN Driveline expands European eDrive production facility to meet growing demand GKN Driveline has announced a major expansion of its European eDrive production facility in Bruneck, Italy, as the company moves to serve increasing demand for electric and hybrid vehicle programs from OEM clients. The company will increase its current 11,000-square-meter floor space by more than 60%, to create an 18,000-square-meter facility dedicated predominantly to eDrive production. The site now employs approximately 800 people. Between 70 and 80 employees will move into eDrive manufacturing, and other driveline production will be relocated to the company’s other sites in Europe. The expansion will also help facilitate increased production of AWD technologies, such as electronic torque management units. By the time the project is completed in 2019, the Bruneck facility will be predominantly focused on eDrive production. The site’s manufacturing portfolio includes the PACE coaxial eAxle, featured on Volvo plug-in hybrids, the two-speed eAxle used on the BMW, and AWD products such as GKN’s Electronic Torque Management systems. GKN also manufactures eDrive systems in Japan, and it will begin production in China next year with its joint venture partner, SDS. “Bruneck has already established itself as a center of excellence for the production of leading electric driveline systems,” said Peter Moelgg, GKN Driveline All-wheel and eDrive CEO. “This major expansion will enable eDrive production to move up a gear, to deliver the growing number of programs won by GKN for next-generation hybrid and electric vehicles.”
Photo courtesy of GKN Driveline
Copper industry expects EVs to spur ninefold rise in demand for copper by 2027