Copper Demand for Electric Vehicles by 2050 Poses Major Global Challenge, Says Study
The International Energy Forum (IEF) has highlighted a critical challenge for the future of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing: the world’s copper production is far from sufficient to meet the projected demand for a full EV rollout by 2050. According to research led by Dr. Lawrence Cathles from Cornell University and Dr. Adam Simon from the University of Michigan, global copper production will need to increase by 115% compared to all copper mined before 2018, to keep pace with the growing EV industry and energy transition needs.
Projections suggest that annual copper mining will need to rise by 82% by 2050, reaching 37.1 million tonnes. However, to meet the demand for EVs by mid-century, an additional 55% increase in copper mining is required. This translates into building 194 new mines — or six each year until 2050 — while current trends suggest just one new mine per year.
The researchers argue that while there is enough copper in the ground, with global resources estimated at 6.66 billion tonnes, the key issue is the slow pace of extraction. Turning a copper discovery into an operational mine takes an average of 23 years, making it difficult to accelerate production to the necessary levels.
To address this challenge, the study suggests a shift towards 100% hybrid vehicles by 2035 as a more realistic option. Hybrids, which use less copper than full battery EVs, offer a less resource-intensive solution and could ease pressure on global copper supplies without requiring massive infrastructure upgrades. The researchers argue that while not a perfect solution, hybrids could provide a more feasible path for achieving environmental goals within the limitations of current copper availability.
