Comparative Study on Environmental Impact of Electric Vehicle Batteries from a Regional and Energy Perspective

Against the backdrop of the global goal of “carbon neutrality”, the advancement of electric vehicles (EVs) holds substantial importance for diminishing the reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating vehicular emissions, and fostering the transition of the automotive sector towards a sustainable, low-carbon paradigm. The wide application of electric vehicles not only reduces the dependence on non-renewable resources such as oil, but also concurrently effectuates a substantial reduction in carbon emissions within the transportation sector. In the realm of electric vehicles, ternary lithium batteries (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) are two widely used batteries. This study examines the resource utilization and environmental repercussions associated with the production of 1 kW ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries, employing a life cycle assessment (LCA) framework. The importance of clean energy in reducing environmental pollution and global warming potential is revealed by introducing five different power generation types and the regional power generation structure in China into the power battery production process. The findings of the investigation indicate that lithium iron phosphate batteries exhibit pronounced superiority in terms of environmental sustainability, while ternary lithium batteries are more advantageous in terms of performance. The mitigation of environmental pollution associated with battery production can be significantly achieved by the holistic integration of clean energy sources and the systematic optimization of manufacturing processes. Specific interventions encompass enhancing the energy efficiency of the production process, incorporating renewable energy sources for power generation, and minimizing the utilization of hazardous materials. By implementing these strategies, the battery sector can advance towards a more environmentally benign and sustainable trajectory.