Blog of Fraunhofer ISI

Materials are indispensable for manufacturing components and products - for example, rare earths for magnets in wind turbines, lithium and cobalt for batteries, or nickel and magnesium for lightweight and high‑performance applications. Yet resource scarcity and international crises can lead to supply bottlenecks and material shortages. Which trends are relevant, and where do the greatest uncertainties emerge? An analysis from the Fraunhofer Flagship Project ORCHESTER identifies 75 future trends and condenses them into the main drivers. Three "Game Changers" illustrate why action is needed now to ensure a sustainable and resilient supply of materials for the energy transition.

The market for second-hand electric vehicles in Germany has changed fundamentally: What used to be a niche market a few years ago is evolving into an established market segment with a growing supply, transparent pricing structures and reliable quality standards. An analysis by Fraunhofer ISI provides insights into the prices for used battery-electric cars. It shows a high availability of electric cars in mid-price ranges, indicating a solid market.

In the project “Foresight on Demand” representatives of the European Commission have created together with experts scenarios for artificial intelligence in Europe in the year 2040. Professor Kerstin Cuhls is a foresight researcher who organized the scenario-process. In conversation with Dr. Bernd Beckert she explains the results.

Used batteries from electric vehicles are not waste, but a strategic source of raw materials. Different countries have different policy frameworks for the recycling of electric vehicle batteries. A look at East Asia also offers lessons for Germany and the EU.

Dr. Meta Thurid Lotz heads the new cross-cutting topic of the circular economy at Fraunhofer ISI. In this blog, she answers three questions about her research and the topic’s importance at Fraunhofer ISI.

In the EU project BungEES, a project consortium developed service packages which help consumers to save energy and money by combining energy efficiency and load management. Fraunhofer ISI assisted in developing the business model through sound scientific analyses.

Electric mobility has long been visible on our roads and many scientists believe it is the powertrain of the future – but the public’s reactions to it are still mixed. When people are asked about the future prospects of different types of powertrains for cars, the main response is uncertainty, even though the majority assess the political support measures for electric mobility positively and interest in electric cars has risen again recently.

Current analyses by Fraunhofer ISI highlight the continuing advance of electric mobility. After a poor year in 2024, sales figures in Germany and other European countries recovered. Chinese manufacturers lead the way in terms of overall figures.

The global supply of essential raw materials for battery production is closely linked to geopolitical dependencies and the market dominance of individual global companies. The focus is particularly on market structures, geopolitical influences, production capacities and security of supply.

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