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Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by gozur88 on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:01PM (#15077366)
There's a real question as to whether we'll have enough copper, too.
Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by hwillis on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:12PM (#15077426)
World production is almost 20 million tonnes annually so that shouldnt be an issue. Its also not like electric cars use that much more copper than normal cars: normal cars have both a starter engine and an alternator plus all the engine wiring.

Also, electric motors can use aluminum wiring, and many induction motors have aluminum rotors since they can be cast at a lower temperature than copper.

Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by Robotbeat on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @10:18PM (#15078033)
So use aluminum, which has better conductivity per unit mass. And is essentially inexhaustible.
Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by pdwetz on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:04PM (#15077381)
I wonder if we can "mine" all of the old copper wires (telephones, etc)?
Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by maxerickson on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:12PM (#15077424)
It's actually a problem with people breaking into unused houses and ripping out the wiring. Or stealing other metal.

Scrap yards in my state (and I'm sure many others) are required to take identification from anyone that sells them metal.

Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by colonelxc on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:16PM (#15077445)
Copper recycling can be quite profitable. Enough so that people rob houses under construction just to recycle it for cash.
Re:A glut has used-car depreciation accelerating by flukus on Tuesday August 22, 2017 @08:18PM (#15077453)
There is a very lucrative black market in "recycled" copper. It's been known to be stolen off trucks by the tonne.