The rapid growth of electric vehicle (EV) sales and the increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have intensified the EU’s reliance on third countries for critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt, manganese, and copper. Since demand is outpacing supply, the implementation of circular economy (CE) strategies has become essential to ensure both resource security and environmental sustainability. This study applies a life cycle assessment (LCA) following ISO 14040/44 to evaluate the environmental impacts of a 253 kg LIB across its life cycle. CE Strategies like re-manufacturing and reusing, and their impact on the battery’s GWP100 and the Electric Vehicle (EV), are also analysed. Results show a GWP100 of 7.69 t CO₂-eq, with the battery cell being the dominant contributor, particularly the anode and cathode, alongside electricity use during its production. The anode strongly affects freshwater ecotoxicity and eutrophication, while the cathode impacts multiple categories similarly. Implementing CE-based R-strategies, like re-manufacturing and re-using, demonstrates strong mitigation potential, cutting GWP100 by up to half and reducing environmental burdens while improving supply chain resilience.
Franziska Boroviczény (Wed,) studied this question.
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