Cobalt. Unless you’re a geologist or an electrical engineer, you’d be forgiven for never giving this metal much thought.
But cobalt is a vital component of the lithium-ion batteries fitted to almost all EVs and PHEVs, maintaining the structural integrity of battery cathodes. No viable alternative currently exists, and while cobalt is also used in mobile phone and laptop batteries, a single EV requires between six and 12kg of the material.
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