GHG Emissions from the Production of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles in China

Han Hao, Zhexuan Mu, Shuhua Jiang, Zongwei Liu and Fuquan Zhao
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Han Hao: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zhexuan Mu: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Shuhua Jiang: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Zongwei Liu: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Fuquan Zhao: State Key Laboratory of Automotive Safety and Energy, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: With the mass market penetration of electric vehicles, the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions associated with lithium-ion battery production has become a major concern. In this study, by establishing a life cycle assessment framework, GHG emissions from the production of lithium-ion batteries in China are estimated. The results show that for the three types of most commonly used lithium-ion batteries, the (LFP) battery, the (NMC) battery and the (LMO) battery, the GHG emissions from the production of a 28 kWh battery are 3061 kgCO 2 -eq, 2912 kgCO 2 -eq and 2705 kgCO 2 -eq, respectively. This implies around a 30% increase in GHG emissions from vehicle production compared with conventional vehicles. The productions of cathode materials and wrought aluminum are the dominating contributors of GHG emissions, together accounting for around three quarters of total emissions. From the perspective of process energy use, around 40% of total emissions are associated with electricity use, for which the GHG emissions in China are over two times higher than the level in the United States. According to our analysis, it is recommended that great efforts are needed to reduce the GHG emissions from battery production in China, with improving the production of cathodes as the essential measure.

Keywords: greenhouse gas; life cycle assessment; lithium-ion battery; electric vehicle; China (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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