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Sustainable management of lithium and green hydrogen and long-run perspectives of electromobility

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  • Sadik-Zada, Elkhan Richard
  • Gatto, Andrea
  • Scharfenstein, Manuel

Abstract

The present paper assesses the prospective role of lithium in the long-run development of electromobility. Based on the existing data, the study shows that the geographical concentration of global lithium riches and rather an oligopolistic market structure of the worldwide primary supply makes the global lithium supply vulnerable to unexpected shocks. Furthermore, the work finds that the current transition to lithium-based electromobility does not exhibit traits of strong or long-term sustainability. This is attributed to the limits of lithium endowments, the negligible recycling capabilities of lithium-ion batteries, and environmental degradation induced by the transition to lithium-ion battery-based electromobility. We conclude that lithium-ion battery-based electromobility is a meaningful bridging technology until the time when lithium-ion batteries could be reliably replaced by the strong sustainability paradigm of road mobility, epitomized by the green hydrogen fuel cells-based electromobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadik-Zada, Elkhan Richard & Gatto, Andrea & Scharfenstein, Manuel, 2023. "Sustainable management of lithium and green hydrogen and long-run perspectives of electromobility," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:186:y:2023:i:pa:s0040162522005133
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121992
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Claudiu Vasile Kifor & Niculina Alexandra Grigore, 2023. "Circular Economy Approaches for Electrical and Conventional Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-28, April.
    2. Karol Tucki & Olga Orynycz & Agnieszka Dudziak, 2022. "The Impact of the Available Infrastructure on the Electric Vehicle Market in Poland and in EU Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Mariusz Tomczyk & Henryk Wojtaszek & Małgorzata Chackiewicz & Małgorzata Orłowska, 2023. "Electromobility and Renewable Energy Sources: Comparison of Attitudes and Infrastructure in Poland and Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-34, December.
    4. Jiehui Yuan & Zhihong Liu & Ting Zhou & Xiaoming Tang & Juan Yuan & Wenli Yuan, 2023. "Sustainable Development of Lithium-Based New Energy in China from an Industry Chain Perspective: Risk Analysis and Policy Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-16, May.
    5. Li, Xiaobin & Sengupta, Tuhin & Si Mohammed, Kamel & Jamaani, Fouad, 2023. "Forecasting the lithium mineral resources prices in China: Evidence with Facebook Prophet (Fb-P) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) methods," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    6. Natavan Namazova, 2023. "Changing the Level of Education and Career Choice Depending on the Socioeconomic Status of the Family: Evidence from Azerbaijan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Reiko Takahashi & Koji Negishi & Hideki Noda & Mami Mizutani, 2023. "Estimating the Dominant Life Phase Concerning the Effects of Battery Degradation on CO 2 Emissions by Repetitive Cycle Applications: Case Study of an Industrial Battery System Installed in an Electric," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-15, February.
    8. Alma Delia Torres-Rivera & Angel de Jesus Mc Namara Valdes & Rodrigo Florencio Da Silva, 2023. "The Resilience of the Renewable Energy Electromobility Supply Chain: Review and Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-21, July.
    9. Sadik-Zada, Elkhan Richard & Santibanez Gonzalez, Ernesto DR & Gatto, Andrea & Althaus, Tomasz & Quliyev, Fuad, 2023. "Pathways to the hydrogen mobility futures in German public transportation: A scenario analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 384-392.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lithium; Hydrogen; Fuel cells; Electromobility; Sustainable resource; Energy transition; Decarbonization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • L72 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Primary Products and Construction - - - Mining, Extraction, and Refining: Other Nonrenewable Resources
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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