More than 90% of the materials in a typical electric car come from mining. Sandvik’s new installation, the eNimon, strips those resources away to highlight what the world would look like without them. 

Completely transparent and immobile, the “Nomine car” illustrates the reliance of EV production—and the broader clean energy transition—on sustainably sourced metals and minerals.

A Visual Reminder of Mining’s Role in Electrification

The eNimon installation, described as the first electric car ever built without metals or minerals, is designed to make a point: without mining, electric mobility doesn’t exist. The transparent vehicle symbolizes what happens when critical materials like lithium, copper, and nickel are unavailable.

“Without mining, there are no EVs, no wind turbines, no solar panels,” said Mats Eriksson, president of Business Area Mining at Sandvik. “Sustainable mining is the backbone of the green transition and fundamental to achieving global sustainability goals.”

Rising Demand for Critical Materials

As the world moves toward net-zero emissions, demand for the minerals that power clean technologies continues to surge. Yet current mining output is not keeping pace.

• An EV requires six times more mineral input than a conventional vehicle.

• An onshore wind plant uses roughly nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired plant.

• Meeting global net-zero targets by 2050 could require up to five times more lithium, nickel, and cobalt production than today.

Without expanding sustainable mining practices, these shortages could slow progress toward electrification and emissions reduction goals.

Mining as a Foundation of the Green Transition

Sandvik’s eNimon installation aims to challenge public perception of mining and emphasize its connection to the technologies shaping a cleaner future.

“eNimon symbolizes what’s at stake if we fail to recognize mining’s essential role in sustainable development,” Eriksson said. “This installation reminds us that mining is not a relic of the past — it’s a high-tech, innovative industry enabling the energy transition.”

On Display in Stockholm

The eNimon is on display at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The installation encourages discussion about responsible sourcing, sustainable production, and the materials needed to support the world’s growing electric vehicle market.