The electric car revolution significantly changed the materials needed for making a car. Production of electric vehicles demands the use of several innovative and rare materials. Other materials, such as copper, are needed because of their characteristics.
So how much copper is in an electric car? The production of an average electric car demands around 183 pounds of copper. That is a significant rise from the 48 pounds needed for a standard ICE car. The rise of copper is attributed to its electrical conductivity attribute.
But you will learn a lot more than this. We will cover all the issues around the production of copper and where it is used in a car. After reading this, you will learn about copper use in an electric vehicle.
Copper Statistics
Demand for copper is on a constant rise. That pulls with it numerous for discovering new locations for copper mines. In 2010, it was believed that there were around 600 million metric tons in the world. When the demand skyrocketed, that followed new exploration research. Now it is believed that there are over 800 million minable metric tons of copper.
Chile is the largest copper producer in the world. Following it are Peru and China. Chile also has the largest copper reserves, and Australia is second.
Why Is Copper Used In Electric Cars?
The main reason for the increased demand for copper in electric cars is its feature of conducting electric energy. Silver is the only metal with a higher conductivity value, but copper is cheaper. An ounce of silver costs $15, compared to copper’s mere $0.20 per ounce.
Also, an important characteristic of copper is its ductility. That feature is essential for a material if it needs to form a wire shape.
An additional reason for the increase in copper demand is charging stations. The charger itself doesn’t use much copper. But the wiring needed for the charging station to work demands a lot of copper.
Check Out Copper’s Role in Electric Vehicles:
Is There Enough Copper For Electric Cars?
The rise in demand for copper has risen by 150%, and that is just for the needs of the EV industry. Copper is also in high demand for EV infrastructure. We should not forget the production of renewable energy sources. Solar panels and wind turbines also demand a high amount of copper.
The copper needed for various industry sectors will double by 2035 to 50 million metric tons. In 2050, the demand will be around 53 metric tons. Around 880 million tons of minable copper are believed to be left on the planet. That is a rise from 630 million metric tons in 2010.
The main problem is the development of new copper mines. Finding copper is still not an issue. But for a copper mine to be productive, it takes around 15 years of mining. That can lead to a copper shortage problem in the future.
Also, copper mining is proven to harm the ecosystem. It causes the deforestation of whole areas. Also, it can poison surface water sources. That can lead to poisoning underground water supplies.
When a lump of copper comes to the surface, it releases radioactive particles. Toxic chemicals follow them. All those elements are harmful to the soil, humans, and animals. They can harm the skin, lungs, and eyes.
Copper in Electric Cars
Copper is primarily used in making a motor, batteries, and wiring. The demand for copper will rise with the rise of purely electric vehicles in the market.
Producing EV motors demand much more copper than producing an engine for gas-powered cars. Copper is used in copper coils. The coil converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Also, more than a mile of copper wiring makes stator windings. Windings are essential in producing a magnetic field that powers up the rotor.
Copper is also a major part of an EV battery. Between 8% and 10% percent of a battery is copper. Also, the wiring used to connect the electronic parts and battery packs is entirely copper.
Average Copper Content
| Type of EV | Pounds of copper used |
| Hybrid Electric Vehicles | 85 |
| Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles | 132 |
| Battery Electric Vehicles | 183 |
Should You Invest in Copper?
Copper is a metal that has one of the most significant price increases. Another plus for investing in copper is its low price. A low price means that the risk for investors is lower when compared to silver or gold.
In the future, demand for copper will continue to rise, leading to a price rise.
FAQs
What is the most often used automotive conductor material?
Aluminum and copper are the leading choices for producing conductor elements in the car. Copper showed better characteristics because it is less likely to corrode. It also is more flexible and has better conductive properties.
How much copper is there in each Tesla?
For the most affordable model Tesla 3, around 130 pounds of copper is used for its production.
Final Considerations
Copper is one of the most essential materials for developing the EV industry. It is in the same group as graphene, lithium, cobalt, and manganese. All those materials have similar problems. They are causing environmental hazards, either by mining or processing. There are not enough of them, and production needs to step it up.
Finding alternatives and also employing recycling as much as possible is essential. The process of production of EVs will need to change if it wants to become sustainable and more eco-friendly. Many steps are already taken, but there is a lot of work in the future.
