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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Main Authors: Rui Jiang, Chengke Wu, Wei Feng, Kairui You, Jian Liu, Guangmin Zhou, Lujing Liu, Hui-Ming Cheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
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
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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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