Critical review of life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles: A lifespan perspective

Xin Lai; Quanwei Chen; Xiaopeng Tang; Yuanqiang Zhou; Furong Gao; Yue Guo; Rohit Bhagat; Yuejiu Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169

Critical review of life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles: A lifespan perspective

Xin Lai, Quanwei Chen, Xiaopeng Tang, Yuanqiang Zhou, Furong Gao, Yue Guo, Rohit Bhagat, Yuejiu Zheng

Centre for E-Mobility and Clean Growth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

353 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the ideal energy storage device for electric vehicles, and their environmental, economic, and resource risks assessment are urgent issues. Therefore, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of LIBs in the entire lifespan is becoming a hotspot. This study first reviews the basic framework and types, standards and methods, and technical challenges of LCA. Then, the cradle-to-cradle LCA framework for LIBs is constructed, and the technical route of LCA in the stages of battery production, usage, secondary utilization, and material recycling are analyzed in detail. Finally, the carbon footprint in the battery production and recycling stages is conducted under the current and future energy mixes. The results show that battery production significantly impacts the environment and resources, and battery materials recycling and remanufacturing present considerable environmental and economic values. Moreover, the greening of electricity is critical to reducing carbon emissions during the battery life cycle.

Original language	English
Article number	100169
Journal	eTransportation
Volume	12
Early online date	16 Apr 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169
Publication status	Published - May 2022

Funder

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51977131 and No. 51877138 ), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (Grant No. 19ZR1435800 ), the State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy under Project No. KF2020 , and Shanghai Science and Technology Development Fund (Grant No. 19QA1406200 ).

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai	19ZR1435800
Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai
Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation	19QA1406200
Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation
National Natural Science Foundation of China	51877138, 51977131
National Natural Science Foundation of China
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy	KF2020
State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy

Keywords

Lithium-ion batteries
Life cycle assessment
Carbon footprint
Cradle-to-cradle
Electric vehicles

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169

Cite this

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title = "Critical review of life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles: A lifespan perspective",

abstract = "Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the ideal energy storage device for electric vehicles, and their environmental, economic, and resource risks assessment are urgent issues. Therefore, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of LIBs in the entire lifespan is becoming a hotspot. This study first reviews the basic framework and types, standards and methods, and technical challenges of LCA. Then, the cradle-to-cradle LCA framework for LIBs is constructed, and the technical route of LCA in the stages of battery production, usage, secondary utilization, and material recycling are analyzed in detail. Finally, the carbon footprint in the battery production and recycling stages is conducted under the current and future energy mixes. The results show that battery production significantly impacts the environment and resources, and battery materials recycling and remanufacturing present considerable environmental and economic values. Moreover, the greening of electricity is critical to reducing carbon emissions during the battery life cycle.",

keywords = "Lithium-ion batteries, Life cycle assessment, Carbon footprint, Cradle-to-cradle, Electric vehicles",

author = "Xin Lai and Quanwei Chen and Xiaopeng Tang and Yuanqiang Zhou and Furong Gao and Yue Guo and Rohit Bhagat and Yuejiu Zheng",

year = "2022",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

journal = "eTransportation",

issn = "2590-1168",

publisher = "Elsevier",

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T1 - Critical review of life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles: A lifespan perspective

AU - Lai, Xin

AU - Chen, Quanwei

AU - Tang, Xiaopeng

AU - Zhou, Yuanqiang

AU - Gao, Furong

AU - Guo, Yue

AU - Bhagat, Rohit

AU - Zheng, Yuejiu

PY - 2022/5

Y1 - 2022/5

N2 - Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the ideal energy storage device for electric vehicles, and their environmental, economic, and resource risks assessment are urgent issues. Therefore, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of LIBs in the entire lifespan is becoming a hotspot. This study first reviews the basic framework and types, standards and methods, and technical challenges of LCA. Then, the cradle-to-cradle LCA framework for LIBs is constructed, and the technical route of LCA in the stages of battery production, usage, secondary utilization, and material recycling are analyzed in detail. Finally, the carbon footprint in the battery production and recycling stages is conducted under the current and future energy mixes. The results show that battery production significantly impacts the environment and resources, and battery materials recycling and remanufacturing present considerable environmental and economic values. Moreover, the greening of electricity is critical to reducing carbon emissions during the battery life cycle.

AB - Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the ideal energy storage device for electric vehicles, and their environmental, economic, and resource risks assessment are urgent issues. Therefore, the life cycle assessment (LCA) of LIBs in the entire lifespan is becoming a hotspot. This study first reviews the basic framework and types, standards and methods, and technical challenges of LCA. Then, the cradle-to-cradle LCA framework for LIBs is constructed, and the technical route of LCA in the stages of battery production, usage, secondary utilization, and material recycling are analyzed in detail. Finally, the carbon footprint in the battery production and recycling stages is conducted under the current and future energy mixes. The results show that battery production significantly impacts the environment and resources, and battery materials recycling and remanufacturing present considerable environmental and economic values. Moreover, the greening of electricity is critical to reducing carbon emissions during the battery life cycle.

KW - Lithium-ion batteries

KW - Life cycle assessment

KW - Carbon footprint

KW - Cradle-to-cradle

KW - Electric vehicles

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U2 - 10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169

DO - 10.1016/j.etran.2022.100169

M3 - Article

SN - 2590-1168

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JO - eTransportation

JF - eTransportation

M1 - 100169

ER -

Critical review of life cycle assessment of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles: A lifespan perspective

Abstract

Funder

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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