Multi-level governance of recycling electric vehicles’ battery metals

The the analysis we are presenting a general picture of European Union level governance system which is influenced by the global activities of the industry and other major players of the field. We shall also make some preliminary reflections in the national level in Finland, which represent one EU member country who is actively developing the EV battery industry. The analysis identifies policy targets, regulatory systems, voluntary mechanisms, coordinating authorities and the relationships between policy-making and business development. EVs will be vital in reducing air pollution and meeting climate change goals. To achieve this, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that global EV stock will need to grow by 36% a year, reaching 245 million vehicles in 2030. The needed growth of electric cars is really challenging. It's something that's never really been done before at that rate of growth for a completely new product. One big challenge is the need of special metals for the batteries. EV batteries are large and heavy and they are made up of several hundred individual lithium-ion cells, all of which need dismantling. To reduce the need for new mining, there is a need for rapidly developing circular economy of EV batteries. The EV battery recycling market is currently a small one, comprising around 100 companies worldwide. But it is growing fast. Many market regions, such as Europe, China and America, already develop policy targets and instruments for the improved circular economy along the EV battery value chain. At the EU level, the Batteries Directive, last amended in 2018, is the main legal act regulating batteries. On December 2020, the Commission published its proposal for a new Sustainable Batteries Regulation as part of its wider strategy for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient EU economy. Recent proposals from the EU have seen EV suppliers responsible for making sure that the batteries will be recycled and car industry and many manufacturers are already starting to step up to the mark. In practice, the EU, global and national level governance and regulatory systems are under active development, and need improved understanding on multi-level interactions for the needed new technological steps.