Sustainable Electric Vehicle Batteries for a Sustainable World: Perspectives on Battery Cathodes, Environment, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Life Cycle, and Policy

• Published in: Advanced energy materials 2022-07, Vol.12 (26), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Yang, Zhijie, Huang, Haibo, Lin, Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cathodes; Electric vehicles; Energy development; Energy policy; Energy storage; Environmental impact; Fossil fuels; Internal combustion engines; Legislation; Life cycle assessment; life cycle assessments; Lithium-ion batteries; Li‐ion batteries; Manufacturing; New technology; policies; Recycling; Supply chains
• ISSN: 1614-6832; 1614-6840
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.202200383

Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) can reduce carbon emissions by powering electric vehicles (EVs) and promoting renewable energy development with grid‐scale energy storage. However, LIB production and electricity generation still heavily rely on fossil fuels at present, resulting in major environmental concerns. Are LIBs as environmentally friendly and sustainable as expected at the current stage? In the past 5 years, a skyrocketing growth of the EV market has been witnessed. LIBs have garnered huge attention from academia, industry, government, non‐governmental organizations, investors, and the general public. Tremendous volumes of LIBs are already implemented in EVs today, with a continuing, exponential growth expected for the years to come. When LIBs reach their end‐of‐life in the next decades, what technologies can be in place to enable second‐life or recycling of batteries? Herein, life cycle assessment studies are examined to evaluate the environmental impact of LIBs, and EVs are compared with internal combustion engine vehicles regarding environmental sustainability. To provide a holistic view of the LIB development, this Perspective provides insights into materials development, manufacturing, recycling, legislation and policy, and beyond. Last but not least, the future development of LIBs and charging infrastructures in light of emerging technologies are envisioned. The cathode development, environmental impact, supply chain, manufacturing, life cycle, and policies relating to Li‐ion batteries are evaluated. Synergistic efforts from industry, academia, and governments are critical for sustainable battery development by shifting to Ni/Co‐free cathodes and developing resilient supply chains, efficient manufacturing, and mature recycling industries with policy support.