Unlike combustion engines that burn oil, batteries do not burn lithium or other minerals like cobalt and nickel, which can be fully recovered and used again. From a life cycle perspective battery-powered vehicles are already better than engined cars. However, they still have an environmental impact, notably in parts of their manufacturing and metals extraction. This paper outlines T&E's vision of how an upcoming EU regulation can minimise the environmental impact and maximise both the industrial and climate benefits of batteries in transport.
