Designing robust transformation toward a sustainable circular battery production

• Published in: Procedia CIRP 2023, Vol.116, p.408-413
• Main Authors: Scheller, Christian, Kishita, Yusuke, Blömeke, Steffen, Thies, Christian, Schmidt, Kerstin, Mennenga, Mark, Herrmann, Christoph, Spengler, Thomas S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: circular production; closed-loop supply chain; fault tree analysis; lithium-ion battery; sustainability; transformation
• ISSN: 2212-8271; 2212-8271
• DOI: 10.1016/j.procir.2023.02.069

To achieve CO2 neutrality in 2050, internal combustion engine vehicles will be gradually substituted by electric vehicles since they enable an emission-free use phase if powered with renewable energy. However, producing lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles is associated with high environmental impacts and economic challenge such as supply bottlenecks. Seeking to tackle these challenges by integrating recovery activities, car and battery manufacturers are increasingly transforming their production systems to circular production. Yet, transforming the entire production system poses several risks and uncertainties, e.g., technological developments and regional political instabilities. Therefore, a robust transformation toward a sustainable circular battery production is needed. Using a scenario design approach, we envision sustainable circular battery production in 2050 and the correlating transformation with minimum total CO2 emissions throughout the transformation process. To consider the potential enablers, inhibitors, and feasible (counter)measures, we conducted a workshop with experts from life cycle engineering, mechanical engineering, and business economics. Based on the results, both technological enablers and fundamental challenges of sustainable circular battery production were derived, which have to be addressed in the context of life cycle engineering.