Le cobalt is ubiquitous in modern technology. It is even said to be the new oil.
Cobalt has a long industrial history and a wide range of uses. Today, it is a metal found in everything from aircraft engines to lithium-ion batteries, including those used in electric vehicles. Currently, most cobalt is used in portable consumer electronics such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets, all of which are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
Although cobalt is a by-product of the production of other metals, it is also mined, mainly in Australia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is well known that cobalt extraction often involves unethical and dangerous working practices in places like the Congo. It is therefore sensible for consumers to examine the cobalt content of all their products when making their purchasing decisions.
What does the future hold for cobalt?
While it's true that cobalt is present in the lithium-ion batteries used in many electric vehicles, there is some good news: EV batteries don't need cobalt to work. In fact, other battery technologies that don't use cobalt - such as nickelCobalt, iron and aluminium or lithium, iron and phosphate - not only exist, but are being actively developed for use in new EVs. As a result, electric vehicle manufacturers are moving away from cobalt. For example, the batteries currently used in Tesla contain less than five per cent cobalt, and the company announced in September 2020 that it was developing its own cobalt-free batteries. Others are significantly reducing the amount of cobalt needed in their batteries, such as GMwhich last year unveiled a new battery which uses 70 % less cobalt than current batteries.
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