Mercedes-Benz is adopting a mining certification programme designed to ensure more ethical sourcing of materials used to make the lithium-ion batteries for its electric vehicles (EVs). The carmaker is also aiming to reduce the level of cobalt used in the batteries it uses to less than 10%.
Cobalt is a conflict mineral, with two-thirds of the world’s supply mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where child labour is common and safety standards can be poor. The industry is hard at work to find ways to replace the element, with iron, nickel and manganese seen as viable alternatives, but cobalt is still considered essential for the production of high-capacity lithium ion batteries.
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