Klinger in Chemistry World on Rare Earth Elements and Electric Cars
Julie Klinger, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, was interviewed for a recent article on claims by the automaker Toyota that it can cut the cost of rare earth element-containing magnets within the motors of electric vehicles.
Klinger was quoted in a February 28, 2018 article in Chemistry World entitled “Toyota Promises Cheaper Electric Car Motor Magnets Within a Decade.“
From the text of the article:
Julie Klinger, an expert in rare earth mining at Boston University, US, notes that cerium and lanthanum cost $5-$8/kg (£4-6), compared to $45-$70/kg for neodymium. Given that there is currently a global oversupply of rare earth elements, she believes this is the most important outcome. ‘Lowering the cost is good news, because it may translate into more affordable electric vehicles,’ she says. ‘The next step for Toyota and other manufacturers is to design their rare-earth bearing components in ways that can be easily recycled.’
Julie Klinger specializes in development, environment, and security politics in Latin America and China in comparative and global perspective. She is currently completing a book project on the global geography of rare earth prospecting and mining, with a special emphasis on the development and geopolitics of resource frontiers in Brazil, China, and Outer Space.