Now playing Next Economy Manganese batteries: Could they be the main driver for EVs? Lithium batteries are expensive to produce, and can be hard to recycle. There are also claims that mining for lithium is dangerous. Manufacturers are looking at other metals to see what they can offer. 08/06/2024
Now playing Next Green News Commissioner touts imminent agreement with Serbia on raw materials Last legal hurdles are being discussed before an EU-Serbia trade partnership to source lithium from the Jadar region comes to fruition. 17/05/2024
Now playing Next Green News Why is lithium crucial to the EU's green and digital transition? Lithium is one of the 34 critical raw materials listed by the EU under the Critical Raw Materials Act, and a key component in the EU’s quest to ditch fossil fuels and switch to clean energy. 09/05/2024
Now playing Next Green News More than 70% of key resources imperilled by climate - report Global production of crucial raw materials may be at risk of disruption due to climate change and businesses need to find adaptation solutions in order to timely deliver clean technologies for the green transition. 30/04/2024
Now playing Next Business Blackstone buys EV gigafactory land, quelling UK net-zero dreams This move could significantly slow down Britain’s ambitious net-zero plans to increase lithium battery production domestically, in order to decrease dependence on China. 16/04/2024
Now playing Next Climate ‘White gold’: Lithium is key to EVs but at what cost to locals? Native groups in South America sit on $1 trillion of lithium but at what cost to their water, culture and livelihoods? 14/03/2024
Now playing Next Green News Norway becomes first country to back controversial deep-sea mining According to a study by the Environmental Justice Foundation published on the day of the vote, deep-sea mining is not needed for the clean energy transition. 11/01/2024
Now playing Next Mobility CES 2024: Are EVs about to take a backseat to hydrogen-powered cars? Electric vehicles (EVs) may be the star of the show at CES in Las Vegas, but other innovations, including hydrogen-powered cars, are turning heads. 10/01/2024
Now playing Next Europe News Brussels approves Northvolt German state aid to avoid losing out to US Swedish battery producer Northvolt will receive €902 million in German state aid, as Brussels makes its first use of more flexible state aid rules to prevent investment from being diverted away from Europe. 08/01/2024
Now playing Next Mobility This French company has designed an e-bike that doesn’t need a battery The brainchild of French entrepreneur Adrien Lelièvre, the Pi-Pop e-bike uses a supercapacitor to store energy rather than rely on batteries. 05/12/2023
Now playing Next Mobility How green are EVs really compared to your petrol or diesel car? Carmakers are pledging billions to develop supposedly eco-friendly EVs but their manufacture is not carbon-free. How do they compare with ICE cars? 29/10/2023
Now playing Next Green News Here’s how electric car batteries could be recycled in the future The researchers have developed a recycling method that allows recovery of 100 per cent of the aluminium and 98 per cent of the lithium in electric car batteries. 17/10/2023
Now playing Next Green News Millions of Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS Hundreds of communities across the US were found to have drinking water contaminated with dangerous levels of PFAS. 18/08/2023
Now playing Next Eco-Innovation Electric planes could take flight with this new battery technology Battery performance and safety have long stood in the way of electrifying aviation but that could soon change. 17/08/2023
Now playing Next Europe Decoded Explained: The EU’s handicap in the race for raw materials The EU is highly dependent on third countries for the raw materials needed to engineer its energy transition and digital transformation. 08/08/2023
Now playing Next Mobility UK building Europe's first lithium refinery to power 1m electric cars As well as providing batteries for the rising numbers of EVs, the plant expects to cut lithium’s current carbon footprint by 80 per cent. 07/08/2023
Now playing Next Eco-Innovation Vaping waste is a ‘huge’ problem in the UK. What is the solution? Three-quarters of people in the UK say they don’t recycle their vapes, which contain a cocktail of precious and hazardous materials. 01/08/2023
Now playing Next world news Von der Leyen signs multi-million euro lithium deal in Chile European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Chilean President Gabriel Boric have agreed a deal on lithium to make electric vehicle batteries. 15/06/2023
Now playing Next Living Why an ‘all solid-state battery’ could save EV owners a lot of time The Japanese automotive company are playing catch up after criticism they haven't done enough to fight the climate crisis. 13/06/2023
Now playing Next world news Euroviews. Europe’s raw materials rush does not justify hiding lithium's dangers A scientifically-backed proposal to classify three lithium salts as toxic to reproduction under Europe’s hazard system is at a dead end, and business -- including potential harm to workers handling lithium salts -- continues as usual, Natacha Cingotti writes. 27/03/2023