Leader: Chris Atkinson
Scope
Transportation is now the largest contributor to GHG emissions in the US, having overtaken power generation in recent years. Vehicle electrification has the potential to achieve stated decarbonization goals and is proceeding at a significant pace. However, a significant issue that has the potential to significantly disrupt electrification is the sourcing and supply of a range of critical materials and minerals, used primarily for batteries and power electronics. The United States has limited supply of a wide range of critical materials, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, germanium, polysilicon, graphite, the platinum group metals and the rare earth elements. Furthermore, practically all routes of beneficiation of these materials lie abroad. Essentially the US is now reliant on foreign sources and supplies that it does not control to meet its own stated GHG emissions reduction and decarbonization goals. The current US administration is acutely aware of these issues and is starting to respond accordingly.
OSU is well-positioned to address the R&D aspects of these emerging supply constraint issues from a multiplicity of angles, including basic materials research, manufacturing, systems integration, vehicle design and optimization, supply chain management, recycling and alternative sourcing options.
Background Research: Electrifying our vehicles and improving mobility
Goals
The group will meet monthly to discuss the individual projects of group members and provide a platform for collaboration among the group members, with a view to responding to emerging Federal funding opportunities in this area.
An on-going activity will be to determine where our OSU “DNA” lies in this topic area (who we are and what we do) and then pull teams together to target viable funding opportunities.
The group intends to hold a workshop or colloquium in the Spring of 2022.
For more information or to get involved, contact Chris Atkinson: Atkinson.284@osu.edu