Comparison of the environmental impact of five electric vehicle battery technologies using LCA

The environmental assessment of various electric vehicle battery technologies (lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, sodium nickel-chloride, and lithium-ion) was performed in the context of the European end-of-life vehicles directive (2000/53/EC). An environmental single-score based on a life-cycle approach, was allocated to each of the studied battery technologies through the combined use of the Simapro® software and of the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) method Eco-indicator 99. The allocation of a single-score enables determining which battery technology is to be used preferably in electric vehicles and to indicate how to further improve the overall environmental friendliness of electric vehicles in the future.

Keywords: electric vehicles, battery technologies, environmental impact, life cycle analysis, LCA, sustainable manufacturing, EU Directive, end-of-life vehicles, EOL vehicles, sustainability