Growing EV Copper Demand in an Efficiency-Driven Era
Copper’s role in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is changing. Each BEV typically uses about 70 kg of copper, which is crucial for many parts, like the copper foil that separates the battery’s anode and cathode, as well as motors and charging cables.
However, car manufacturers are working to use less copper in these parts to save money as they increase BEV production. Estimates suggest that by 2030, the average amount of copper used per vehicle could drop by 38 kg. This reduction is happening because companies are finding cheaper materials and improving efficiency.
Almost all parts that contain copper are expected to see some reduction. Busbars, which help distribute power from the battery to different vehicle parts, will see the biggest yearly decrease, averaging 6% until 2030. Many manufacturers are switching to lighter and cheaper aluminum busbars instead of copper.
Even with this decrease in copper per vehicle, the overall demand for copper in the BEV sector is expected to rise a lot as more vehicles are made and charging stations are built. These factors should more than make up for the lower copper usage in each vehicle.