COBALT MINING & LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Cobalt is used in most commercial lithium-ion batteries. It is typically combined with lithium and oxygen to form the cathode. The energy-dense metal is expensive, but it comes at an even higher cost: a long history of human rights violations in areas in which it is mined. More than half of the world’s cobalt supply is mined in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where roughly 100,000 cobalt miners use hand tools to dig deep into the ground with little to no safety measures. There have also been reports of children being forced to work in these mines for as little as $1.50 per day. In a lawsuit against five major tech companies, including Tesla, families of children who died in cobalt mines argued that these companies were complicit in a system of forced labor that eventually caused the deaths or serious injuries of children.

Not only is cobalt used in EV batteries, but large tech companies like Apple and Google also use it in their batteries. As the mining of cobalt increases in order to meet growing technology and increasing demand, human rights violations will continue and prices could increase as supply struggles to keep up. EV batteries make up under 20% of the world’s cobalt use; most of the mineral is used for smaller batteries, such as those used in laptops and cell phones. However, all battery manufacturers should begin steering the industry away from unethically mined cobalt.

Because lithium-ion batteries are powerful and cost-effective, there have been efforts to find an alternative to using cobalt and ensure that any cobalt used is mined ethically. Reducing or eliminating cobalt use also lowers overall cost, as it is the most expensive ingredient of an EV battery and its price continues to rise. Tesla’s battery producer, Panasonic Corp, announced a goal to develop an EV battery without using cobalt. They have already produced a battery that significantly reduces cobalt by increasing nickel content while still maintaining thermal stability. Apple and Samsung have joined the Responsible Cobalt Initiative, which pledges to address the environmental and human rights issues associated with using cobalt. Apple has started to purchase cobalt directly from those who mine it to ensure that acceptable safety practices are being followed.

The reality is that lithium-ion batteries that contain cobalt are currently the cheapest and most powerful EV battery option on the market. Battery prices are down 85% since 2010, largely due to innovations in lithium-ion batteries. As the demand for EVs grows, it will be difficult to find an alternative that is so cost-effective.