Renault has become the latest carmaker to commit to clean steel for its electric vehicles, joining automotive firms such as Volvo, Mercedes Benz and Geely.
Renault has committed to purchasing Usibor 1500 XCarb steel from ArcelorMittal, which is produced via an electric arc furnace method using 75% recycled content and powered entirely by renewable electricity.
The steel is being used in three Renault EVs: Renault 5 E-Tech electric, Alpine A290 and Renault 4 E-Tech electric (pictured).
Volvo recently unveiled a new EV model that contains ‘virtually zero carbon emissions’ steel, the EX60 EV, which is produced by SSAB and is made from recycled scrap.
Elsewhere, last month, Mercedes-Benz revealed how carbon reduction measures along its supply chain, including the use of low-carbon steel, have enabled the company’s GLC EV to achieve a two-thirds reduction in carbon emissions across its entire lifecycle.
‘Clear and unmistakable signal’
“The growing demand for clean steel from automakers is sending a clear and unmistakable signal to steel producers and their investors: the market for green steel is real, accelerating, and set to expand alongside the rapid rise in EV sales,” commented Matthew Groch, senior director at Mighty Earth. “Forward-looking steelmakers have a clear opening to lead, innovate, and capture this growing demand if they act now.”
According to the latest Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard, which was released last month, demand for clean steel is on the rise among automakers, who see the product as a means of differentiating their EVs from the competition.
Interest in clean steel
Elsewhere, a recent US-based poll from Industrious Labs, which was conducted last year, found that 79% of EV drivers said they were interested in buying vehicles made with clean steel, while 84% of this cohort were willing to pay more for it.
“Our polling shows strong consumer demand and willingness to pay for EVs made with clean steel,” added Maricela Gutierrez, senior campaign strategist at Industrious Labs. “With Renault now putting clean steel into its EVs, and Volvo the first automaker to use SSAB Zero Steel, that consumer demand is clearly having an effect and these automakers are capitalising on being first movers.
“Forward-thinking steelmakers need to heed the call of their automotive consumers and start meeting that demand by delivering affordable zero-emissions steel.” Read more here.
