Automakers' Shift to Aluminum Sparks Concerns Over Copper Shortage. In a move to reduce vehicle weight and improve fuel efficiency, major automakers have increasingly turned to aluminum for their vehicle production. However, this shift has a ripple effect, as the demand for copper, a critical component in electric wiring, has decreased. A structural rise in global aluminum production is largely to blame, raising concerns about the potential shortage of copper, a vital material in the production of electric vehicles and other critical infrastructure. As the world transitions to a more electric future, the delicate balance between these two essential materials is becoming increasingly important.
The automakers said they chose aluminum in part because of its lighter weight, but a shift away from copper, the dominant material in electric wiring, has also happened because of a structural rise in ...
