A framework for evaluating EV battery mineral sourcing challenges

Sustainable Futures. 2025. Vol. 9. Article 100720.

Nurcan Kilinc-Ata, Fikru M.

The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is pivotal for global decarbonization but faces significant challenges in securing essential battery minerals like lithium, graphite, manganese, cobalt, and nickel. While existing literature extensively explores individual challenges such as geographic concentration, geopolitical instability, and sustainability concerns, it often lacks a holistic framework to address their interconnected impacts on supply-demand dynamics. This report synthesizes insights from the extant literature to identify vulnerabilities in the mineral supply chain and proposes a strategic framework for sourcing policies. Key findings emphasize the need for developing mineral-specific sourcing policies, integrating sustainability criteria for mineral sourcing, and investing in technological innovations. These strategies could reduce transaction costs and mineral intensities while supporting the scaling of EV adoption.

Keywords: Sustainability, Energy transition geopolitics, International decarbonisation policies, Energy policies, critical minerals

Publication based on the results of: Trends and factors of sustainable science and technology development (2025)