The need for a systemic approach to substitution

Current research on substitution of critical raw materials is often narrow: focusing on changing one metal or component for another. PhD student Oscar Gustafsson aims to take a broader view of substitution in his research.

Oscar Gustafsson’s research is motivated by the gap that he has identified in the literature on substitution of raw materials in general and mobility in particular.

“I am interested in exploring what substitution can mean on a systemic level, for example, engaging with more radical changes to mobility where private electric car ownership might no longer be the norm“, says Oscar Gustafsson, PhD student at Environmental and Energy Systems Studies at Lund University.

His current research is motivated by the gap that he has identified in the literature on substitution of raw materials in general and mobility in particular. Most research only focuses on lower levels of substitution; whereby one metal or component is replaced with another.

He is now mapping these gaps and at the same time expanding an existing framework for how to integrate a more systematic approach to substitution in research and, in the future, practice for the electric vehicle market.

“Substitution is a question of scale. If you substitute cars for buses, you will need less critical raw materials for batteries, as a bus of course can carry more people than a car and it enables using materials more efficiently.”

He has already identified the need to go beyond critical raw materials for this broader approach to work. It would include measures like prioritising public transport over private car ownership, creating more walkable cities with amenities nearby, and campaigns to change public perception and transport behaviour. Next step is to quantify what this would mean for societies’ dependency on critical raw materials.

What are the greatest barriers to a systemic substitution?

“I would say one main hurdle is what the car is symbolising in our society; and to change people’s behaviours towards active travel and using more public transport. Today people expect to be able to get to work or leisure on their own time frame. Yet, substitution can be a very powerful measure to counteract criticality and is something we need to explore and research further.”

Once the framework is more developed, he aims to engage in discussion with electric vehicle battery producers, to get their input into how to implement these ideas.

“I want to develop something of value, and I hope that this broader view of substitution can elicit some reflections and ideas for how to go forward that both reduce our need for critical raw materials and support the energy transition.”