Digging Deep: Critical Mineral Supply Chains, Electric Vehicles, and the Role of Technological Innovation

These flashcards focus on key terminology and concepts from the lecture on critical minerals, electric vehicles, and technological innovations in their supply chains.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

Vehicles that are powered by electric motors, using electricity stored in batteries.

Critical Minerals

Minerals essential for the production of electric vehicle batteries and motors, often subject to supply chain concerns.

Supply Chains

Systems that involve the production and distribution of goods and services, heavily reliant on the availability of materials.

Technological Innovation

The process of developing new technologies or improving existing ones to enhance productivity and mitigate risks.

Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)

A technology that increases the supply of lithium by extracting it more efficiently from brines than traditional methods.

High-Voltage Pulse Technology

A mining innovation that uses electrical discharges to break mineralized ores while preserving adjacent barren rocks.

EC-Leach

An innovative recycling technology that uses fewer chemicals and lower temperatures to recapture materials from lithium-ion batteries.

Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform

A software developed by Honeywell to optimize gigafactory operations and improve battery cell yields.

Material Substitution

The replacement of one material with another in product manufacturing, used to reduce risks associated with scarcity or extraction.

Rare-earth-free Permanent Magnets

Magnets developed to avoid using rare-earth elements, providing alternatives in EV motors.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Legislation that provides funding for infrastructure and manufacturing to advance clean energy technologies.

Critical Materials Collaborative (CMC)

A program established to foster innovation and collaboration among various DOE offices for critical mineral supply chains.

Midstream Supply Chain

The transformation phase of raw materials into refined materials for use in manufacturing components.

Quality Assurance

Processes aimed at ensuring the consistent quality of products, critical for technological deployment in the EV industry.

1) What are the three general strategies that the article suggests for dealing with limited rare earth materials for batteries?

1) Increasing recycling efforts, 2) Developing alternative materials, 3) Improving supply chain efficiency.

2) Provide examples of each of these strategies as described in an article?

The three strategies include recycling existing materials, improving the efficiency of resource extraction, and developing alternative materials or battery technologies.

3) What policies have been put in place to try to improve supply chain resiliency for energy?

Various government policies have been enacted, such as creating strategic reserves, incentivizing domestic production, and fostering international partnerships to ensure stable access to critical minerals for energy technologies.

4) What are the challenges for automakers and others to address supply chain issues?

Challenges include sourcing reliable suppliers, managing geopolitical risks, navigating regulatory hurdles, and ensuring sustainable practices in mining and processing.