2021 saw a surge in new electrodeposited copper foil manufacturing capacity – just one use leading to a 5-fold increase in copper demand from EVs over the next decade.
The decision shows the administration is increasingly comfortable prioritizing domestic conservation efforts, even as demand for minerals used to build electric vehicles rises amid efforts to combat climate change.
Scientists believe the devices have the potential to be the ultimate rechargeable batteries, with theoretical energy densities several times that of currently available lithium-ion batteries.