Dynamic sustainability assessment of critical mineral resources for China's EV industry: A multi-national niche and grey model approach

Abstract

This article conducts a dynamic assessment of the sustainability of critical mineral resources for electric vehicles (EV) such as nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper. The results indicate that: (1) Compared with the three major economies of the US, Australia and Canada, the overall sustainable development prospects of China's critical mineral resources for EV are more optimistic, but the management of environmental, social and market aspects still needs to be strengthened; (2) China's absolute niche shows a fluctuating upward trend as a whole; (3) China's niche suitability generally on the rise, but it still needs long-term efforts to enter and maintain a strong sustainable stage; (4) In the next five years, the sustainable development status in China is generally good, but there are significant environmental challenges. Based on these research results, this paper puts forward a series of policy recommendations to promote the sustainable development of critical mineral resources for EV.