Key issues of lithium-ion batteries – from resource depletion to environmental performance indicators

Abstract

Lithium batteries increasingly popular, but what is the associated environmental impact to their use? This paper focusses on the environmental impacts of two lithium battery chemistries used in electric vehicles and on the problematic around resource availability. A full life cycle perspective is important in order to avoid burden shifts from one life cycle stage to another. Using a life cycle assessment methodology, a cradle to grave analysis is performed where the 3 different product life stages are assessed, production, use stage and end-of-life. Alongside, an extensive literature review is performed on lithium availability. It is concluded that this issue will not pose an obstacle. However, certain conditions have to be met in order to guaranty this situation. The chemistries used in this assessment are Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO) and a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP). We conclude that the overall environmental performance of the battery is strongly dependent on its efficiency and directly tied to the energy mixes associated to its use stage. Lifetime energy, durability and efficiency are the key environmental performance indicators and are taken into account. The dominant differences between the two batteries are during the manufacturing and recycling stage. Depending on the impact category, the scores shift from both technologies. A production hotspot analysis is also performed in order to identify opportunities for eventual environmental damage reductions. During the manufacturing stage, key areas were found with issues related to manufacturing energy, manufacturing facilities, and raw material processing/assembly.