Study on electric cars: Complete battery production in Europe would save almost 40 percent CO-2

According to the study by the organization “Transport and Environment”, the main reason for the possible CO2 savings is the “relatively high proportion” of renewable energies in Europe. Because a lot of energy is required to produce battery cells. After a complete exit from oil, gas and coal, European battery manufacturers could even emit more than 60 percent less carbon dioxide compared to previous imports. The companies have the technical possibilities Batteries to produce in the EU. However, around half of the planned EU production is in danger of moving to the USA or China due to a lack of financing, warns Sebastian Bock, T&E managing director in Germany. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU battery fund need to be better positioned “to be able to support investments in European gigafactories,” it is said.

Closer cooperation with Norway

The study authors come to the conclusion that obtaining the required metals in the EU would also reduce CO2 emissions. Compared to previously imported nickel from Indonesia and lithium from Australia processed in China, the transport routes are also shorter. T&E calls for metals to be increasingly mined and recycled in Europe. The EU’s goal is to cover at least ten percent of its needs for strategically important raw materials such as nickel and lithium from its own production by 2030. The processing capacity should then be at least 40 percent. For battery production, the EU is planning closer cooperation with Norway, which has large raw material reserves in the North Sea. In the German state of Schleswig-Holstein, for example, the Swedish manufacturer Northvolt is building a battery factory that is scheduled to start operations in 2026 – supported with 902 million euros from the federal and state governments. According to its own statements, Northvolt wants to have the “world’s most environmentally friendly” in Heide in the Dithmarschen district Batteries“, production will be powered by wind power from the region.