Exploring the energy and environmental sustainability of advanced lithium-ion battery technologies

Abstract

The development of battery materials and pack structures is crucial for enhancing electric vehicle (EV) performance and adoption. This study examines the impact of Ni-rich cathode materials and advanced cell-to-pack (CTP) designs on the energy and environmental sustainability of power batteries. A correlation equation that links energy consumption with curb weight and ambient temperature was established to accurately assess energy consumption during the usage stage of EVs. High-nickel, low-cobalt lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxides (NCM) batteries demonstrated superior life cycle environmental performance, primarily due to the significant environmental impacts of CoSO₄ production. However, the benefits of CTP batteries over traditional cell-to-module (CTM) batteries are minimal. In southern provinces of China, abundant clean energy for electricity generation can reduce the life cycle carbon footprint of power batteries by over 70 % compared with northern provinces, highlighting the importance of transitioning to clean energy sources for sustainable EV industry development.