Environmental and social impacts of Li-ion batteries

Market Intelligence ReportElectric vehicles do not directly emit CO2. However, the generation of electricity to charge their Li-ion batteries does. More importantly, though, the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries has considerable environmental and societal impact. On one hand, manufacturing processes are highly energy-intensive, which leads to CO2 emissions and negative environmental impacts. On the other hand, batteries contain raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, manganese, graphite, and nickel, of which the mining and processing entail a negative impact on both local societies and ecosystems. Mining operations for cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo have often been accused of using artisanal miners and child labour, while leaks of toxic chemicals f rom lithium mines in Tibet have caused the deterioration of local fauna. Considering the global increase in battery demand, these issues are only expected to increase, should nothing change. Solutions are being developed. Pyro, hydro, and other, innovative recycling processes are being further developed and upscaled, which could partly replace raw material mining. Although up to now just around 5% of all Li-ion batteries (f rom smaller devices such as laptops or cell phones) are recycled or reused, the volume of larger EV batteries that is expected to reach their end of life in the next few years is expected to change this trend, as recycling of larger batteries – with higher content in valuable materials – is predicted to make recycling f inancially attractive. In addition, new battery technologies with low or no content of “troublesome” raw materials are being developed, such as the cobalt-f ree battery developed in COBRA . This market intelligence report aims to highlight the main environmental and social impacts of Li-ion batteries, as well as technologies and measures to reduce them.Objectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum ResponsablesObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables::12.2 - Per a 2030, assolir la gestió sostenible i l’ús eficient dels recursos naturalsObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::12 - Producció i Consum Responsables::12.4 - Per a 2020, aconseguir la gestió ecològicament racional dels productes químics i de tots els residus al llarg del seu cicle de vida, de conformitat amb els marcs internacionals convinguts, i reduir-ne de manera significativa l’alliberament a l’atmosfera, a l’aigua i al sòl a fi de minimitzar-ne els efectes adversos sobre la salut humana i el medi ambientPreprin