EU lithium battery acquisition

Are batteries regulated in the EU?

Since 2006, batteries and waste batteries have been regulated at EU level under the Batteries Directive. The Commission proposed to revise this Directive in December 2020 due to new socioeconomic conditions, technological developments, markets, and battery uses. Demand for batteries is increasing rapidly.

Is the EU Industrial Policy on batteries effective?

84 Overall, we conclude that the Commission’s promotion of an EU industrial policy on batteries has been effective, despite shortcomings on monitoring, coordination and targeting, as well as the fact that access to raw materials remains a major strategic challenge for the EU’s battery value chain.

Will the EU expand its battery production base over 2022-2030?

The EU is expected to expand its production base for battery raw materials and components over 2022-2030, and improve its current position and global share. However, dependencies and bottlenecks in the supply chain will remain creating vulnerabilities.

Why does the EU have a shortage of end-of-life batteries?

This is due to the combined effects of an increase in global demand, driven mostly by the electrification of road transport; and limitations in the EU’s domestic supply of raw materials, which is both scarce and rigid: mining projects have long lead times between exploration and production and recycling of end-of-life batteries is still limited.

Will EU demand for electric vehicle batteries be met by 2025?

87 The production capacity of the EU-based battery industry, although still limited, is developing rapidly and could satisfy expected EU demand for electric vehicle batteries by 2025.

Will China reduce its role in global lithium-ion battery supply chains?

Although Chinese companies are not mentioned explicitly, the act has been associated with efforts to promote EU commercial interests by reducing China's role in global supply chains, including lithium-ion batteries (Petitjean and Verheecke, 2023; Reuters, 2023; Müller et al., 2024).