Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China
Abstract The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in China challenges raw material demand. This study evaluates the impact of recycling and reusing EV batteries on reducing material demand and carbon emissions. Integrating a national-level vehicle stock turnover model with life-cycle carbon emiss...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86250-1 |
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| author | Rui Jiang Chengke Wu Wei Feng Kairui You Jian Liu Guangmin Zhou Lujing Liu Hui-Ming Cheng |
| author_facet | Rui Jiang Chengke Wu Wei Feng Kairui You Jian Liu Guangmin Zhou Lujing Liu Hui-Ming Cheng |
| author_sort | Rui Jiang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in China challenges raw material demand. This study evaluates the impact of recycling and reusing EV batteries on reducing material demand and carbon emissions. Integrating a national-level vehicle stock turnover model with life-cycle carbon emission assessment, we found that replacing nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries with lithium iron phosphate batteries with battery recycling can reduce lithium, cobalt, and nickel demand between 2021 and 2060 by up to 7.8 million tons (Mt) (67%), 12.4 Mt (96%), and 37.2 Mt (93%), respectively, significantly decreasing reliance on import. Moreover, battery recycling coupled with reuse can reduce carbon emissions by up to 6,532-6,864 Mt (36.0-37.9%), depending on four recycling methods employed. However, this reuse strategy delays battery recycling and risks lithium supply shortage, necessitating trade-offs between carbon reduction and material supply. Future technologies, such as lithium-sulfur and all-solid-state batteries, despite their energy efficiency, might exacerbate lithium shortage, underscoring the crucial need for increased lithium supply. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-557cbf23dcfb46308800fb944b04f45c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-557cbf23dcfb46308800fb944b04f45c2025-01-19T12:21:57ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-86250-1Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in ChinaRui Jiang0Chengke Wu1Wei Feng2Kairui You3Jian Liu4Guangmin Zhou5Lujing Liu6Hui-Ming Cheng7Institute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesShenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesEnergy Research Institute, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate SchoolInstitute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Technology for Carbon Neutrality, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, The Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract The rapid growth of electric vehicles (EVs) in China challenges raw material demand. This study evaluates the impact of recycling and reusing EV batteries on reducing material demand and carbon emissions. Integrating a national-level vehicle stock turnover model with life-cycle carbon emission assessment, we found that replacing nickel-cobalt-manganese batteries with lithium iron phosphate batteries with battery recycling can reduce lithium, cobalt, and nickel demand between 2021 and 2060 by up to 7.8 million tons (Mt) (67%), 12.4 Mt (96%), and 37.2 Mt (93%), respectively, significantly decreasing reliance on import. Moreover, battery recycling coupled with reuse can reduce carbon emissions by up to 6,532-6,864 Mt (36.0-37.9%), depending on four recycling methods employed. However, this reuse strategy delays battery recycling and risks lithium supply shortage, necessitating trade-offs between carbon reduction and material supply. Future technologies, such as lithium-sulfur and all-solid-state batteries, despite their energy efficiency, might exacerbate lithium shortage, underscoring the crucial need for increased lithium supply.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86250-1Carbon emissionsBattery recyclingLife-cycle emissionsDirect Cathode RecyclingElectric vehicles |
| spellingShingle | Rui Jiang Chengke Wu Wei Feng Kairui You Jian Liu Guangmin Zhou Lujing Liu Hui-Ming Cheng Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China Scientific Reports Carbon emissions Battery recycling Life-cycle emissions Direct Cathode Recycling Electric vehicles |
| title | Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China |
| title_full | Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China |
| title_fullStr | Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China |
| title_short | Impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life-cycle carbon emissions in China |
| title_sort | impact of electric vehicle battery recycling on reducing raw material demand and battery life cycle carbon emissions in china |
| topic | Carbon emissions Battery recycling Life-cycle emissions Direct Cathode Recycling Electric vehicles |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86250-1 |
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