New Report Highlights Critical Material Risks Beyond Batteries for the UK EV Industry
Date: 06 July 2026
A new report from the University of Exeter, funded by the UK Council for Automotive Academic Research (UKCAAR), has revealed that the UK electric vehicle (EV) industry’s exposure to critical material risks extends far beyond lithium-ion batteries and traction motors.
Material Risks: Beyond Batteries and Traction Motors for the UK Electric Vehicle Industry explores the growing dependence of EVs and future autonomous vehicles on a diverse range of materials embedded throughout electronics, power systems, sensors, chassis structures and vehicle components.
The report also highlights growing geopolitical, supply chain, regulatory and financial risks linked to these materials, while calling for greater investment in domestic capabilities, recycling, innovation and supply chain transparency to strengthen the resilience of the UK’s automotive sector.
This report was funded by UKCAAR as part of the UK Government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 programme, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK and Innovate UK.
Register your interest in the UKCAAR Feasibility Sprint Dissemination Day on 28 July, where the results, conclusions and recommendations from this paper, as well as from another upcoming insight report and 4 Feasibility Sprint projects, will be presented.