Towards consistent life cycle assessment modelling of circular economy strategies for electric vehicle batteries

Abstract

Circular economy strategies for electric vehicle (EV) batteries are gaining importance to reduce dependence on primary raw materials for the energy and mobility transition. Modelling circular economy strategies in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of EV batteries comes with a number of key challenges to ensure sound support to decision-making, including i) solving multifunctionality, whether regarding End-of-Life, processes of secondary raw materials production or product level, ii) capturing material quality aspects and iii) using adequate resource indicators. This study provides a review of LCA guidelines and scientific literature relative to EV batteries. The objective is two-fold: i) identifying key gaps in the guidelines regarding these modelling challenges, and ii) discussing how to fill them based on the state-of-the-art research. The analysis shows that the handling of multifunctionality is addressed in all analysed guidelines but is treated very differently. Major efforts are expected in terms of standardisation and harmonisation, building on the existing state-of-the-art research. A guiding question for standardisation is whether multifunctionality shall be always treated in the same way or whether special rules are appropriate. Instead, material quality and indicators of mineral resource losses are not at all, or to a very limited extent, addressed by existing guidelines. For material quality and mineral resource dissipation and accessibility-based indicators, research developments shall be pursued. Associated research outcomes are ultimately expected to be fed back into the guideline development in a more mid to long-term. The approach for handling these modelling challenges could and should be consistent between different products and sectors of the energy and mobility transition, to avoid double counting and burden shifting.