Circularity of lithium-ion battery materials in electric vehicles

Batteries have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from on-road transportation. However, environmental and social impacts of producing lithium-ion batteries, particularly cathode materials, and concerns over material criticality are frequently highlighted as barriers to widespread electric vehicle adoption. Circular economy strategies, like reuse and recycling, can reduce impacts and secure regional supplies. To understand the potential for circularity, we undertake a dynamic global material flow analysis of pack-level materials that includes scenario analysis for changing battery cathode chemistries and electric vehicle demand. Results are produced regionwise and through the year 2040 to estimate the potential global and regional circularity of lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, iron, aluminum, copper, and graphite, although the analysis is focused on the cathode materials. Under idealized conditions, retired batteries could supply 60% of cobalt, 53% of lith..., This data was collected through various sources, including from EV Volumes, International Energy Agency, Argonne National Lab, and published articles. A model was created with R to process the data. , R is required to open the models.电池有望显著削减道路交通运输领域的温室气体排放。然而，锂离子电池（lithium-ion batteries）——尤其是正极材料（cathode materials）——生产过程所引发的环境与社会影响，以及材料关键性担忧，常被视为阻碍电动汽车大规模推广的核心壁垒。循环经济（circular economy）策略（如再利用与回收利用）可降低此类负面影响并保障区域供应链安全。为探明循环利用潜力，本研究针对电池包级（pack-level）材料开展动态全球物质流分析（dynamic global material flow analysis），其中涵盖针对电池正极化学体系演变与电动汽车需求变化的情景分析（scenario analysis）。分析结果按区域维度生成，时间跨度至2040年，旨在评估锂、钴、镍、锰、铁、铝、铜及石墨的全球与区域循环利用潜力，尽管本次研究的核心聚焦于正极材料。在理想化场景下，退役电池可满足60%的钴需求、53%的锂[原文未完整显示]。本数据集通过多渠道采集，数据来源包括EV Volumes、国际能源署（International Energy Agency）、阿贡国家实验室（Argonne National Lab）及已发表学术文献。本研究使用R语言构建模型以处理数据集，需通过R软件方可打开相关模型文件。