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"A ticking time bomb that can explode at any time", as EVs surge, so does nickel mining’s death toll (restofworld.org)

submitted 1 year ago by 0x815@feddit.de to c/news@beehaw.org

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Chinese demand for nickel, an important ingredient in EV batteries, has triggered a mining boom in the remote regions of Indonesia. The country has signed over a dozen deals worth more than $15 billion with suppliers for EV giants like Tesla and Hyundai Motor, but deaths and injuries from industrial accidents have been racking up.

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[–] Cube6392@beehaw.org 29 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's the new hotness yes, but for the most part EVs are currently using Li-NMC lithium ion batteries. The NMC stands for Nickel Manganese Cobalt. Nickel and Cobalt mining is a major source of degradation in extraction mining economies, bordering on, and at times entering into, slavery.

Also LiFePO4 are not set to replace Li-NMC batteries for a long time and cannot act as a drop in replacement. They're a better drop in for NiMH or Lead Acid batteries given their similar drawbacks. They are projected to replace Li-NMC by 2028, but that's a whole half decade from now

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I didn't realize Li-ions were still using nickel.

Regardless, Telsa and Ford have already switched to LiFePO4 for new models, and Toyota has started switching. Both competitive and economic pressures will push the migration sooner. The battery tech is just miles and miles better (literally). Car buyers will want the extra distance and faster charging.

So, bylines that remark "nickel will feed EV giants like Tesla" is just disingenuous.

[–] PeachMan@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Tesla and Ford both use LiFePo batteries in SOME of the EVs they sell, NOT ALL. Get your facts straight before you start attacking the credibility of others. You're just repeating industry propaganda at this point.