Transition to electric vehicles and the location of key battery-related activities

The transition to electric vehicles brought profound changes to the automotive industry, particularly regarding a key component: the battery. This study analyses the location factors and trends shaping the geography of battery-related activities, ranging from the extraction of essential minerals to battery recycling. Based on expert interviews and an examination of 26 new battery-related locations in Spain during 2022 and 2023, the findings reveal two main dynamics. First, recent locations supported the creation of a Spanish value chain to meet internal demand, with decisions influenced by proximity to market (automobile manufacturers’ production plants) and resource availability. Second, a substantial share of high value-added activities were not located in Spain, indicating a geographical disconnect between the production of certain value-added components and their place of supply, and highlighting the concentration of innovation activities in only a few countries.