Nickel is an important part of EV battery manufacturing because of its energy density and capacity retention. Demand for nickel is on an upward trajectory as EV sales surge, but despite extensive recycling efforts, nickel demand continues to outpace supply.

Global nickel demand is projected to increase six-fold by 2030 due largely to the surging EV market. Many of the material components in EV batteries were placed on the European Commission’s Critical Raw Material list signed into law in February.

It builds on a list that has been being enlarged since 11 materials were first identified by the Commission in 2011, and now also contains copper and nickel as “strategic raw materials”.

The nickel sector would like to see battery-grade nickel, which accounts for 11% of nickel use, be eligible for the same measures promoting production and recycling as those materials that have met the critical threshold.

In this Special Report, we look at how Europe can meet its need for strategic raw materials.