The greenhouse gas emissions of automotive lithium-ion batteries: a statistical review of life cycle assessment studies

Worldwide sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been steadily increasing for several years and now account for several million vehicles, resulting in a high use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It is then required to assess the real environmental impact of these LIBs and to avoid environmen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of cleaner production Vol. 344; p. 130994
Main Authors: Bouter, Anne, Guichet, Xavier
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier Ltd 10.04.2022
Elsevier
Subjects:
Chemical Sciences
ecological value
energy
Environmental Engineering
environmental impact
Environmental Sciences
Global warming potential impact
greenhouse gases
Life cycle assessment
Literature review
Lithium-ion batteries
Material chemistry
Meta-analysis
Reduced parametrized model
specific energy
Lithium-ion batteries
Life cycle assessment
Literature review
Reduced parametrized model
Meta-analysis
Global warming potential impact
ISSN:0959-6526, 1879-1786
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Worldwide sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been steadily increasing for several years and now account for several million vehicles, resulting in a high use of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). It is then required to assess the real environmental impact of these LIBs and to avoid environmental impacts' transfers. Life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology seems the most appropriate framework as it is a multi-stages and environmental multi-criteria ISO methodology. However, many studies exist on this subject and no consensus is emerging on a common environmental value of LIB's production. To fill this gap and properly assess the environmental consequences of a massive electrification deployment, this study performs a qualitative and a quantitative review of more than 500 LCA studies referring to LIBs' production for BEVs. 377 observations for seven selected variables among more than 80 surveyed variables are presented and meta-analysis (MA) methodology is used to compare the final 32 selected studies. After many statistical tests and 8 finalists selected, we find that the global warming potential (GWP) impact of mobile LIBs' production can be explained by a reduced parametrized model containing four information: the geographical location of the corresponding author, the cell design of the battery, the battery specific energy, and the manufacturing energy. This allows a generic and systematic approach to assess GWP impacts of LIBs production. We also propose recommendations for LCA practitioners to harmonize LIBs' environmental assessments and save time for further analysis. [Display omitted] •A statistical review across more than 500 LCA studies from 3 search engines on automotive lithium-ion batteries.•32 selected studies and 377 observations assessed throughout 7 selected characteristics, equivalent to 21 variables.•Very high disparity and variability for LIBs' Global Warming Potential (GWP) results.•A reduced model with only 4 explanatory characteristics to assess GWP for mobile LIBs.
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ISSN:0959-6526
1879-1786
DOI:10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.130994