Decoding the carbon footprint of the automotive battery supply chain

Although the tailpipe emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) are nonexistent, there are still emissions associated with the manufacturing of EVs. A lion's share of these cradle-to-grave emissions accrues from the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery-related supply chain and production.

The level of emissions can vary significantly depending on the country where the cells are produced, the cell's chemistry, and the manufacturing process. The primary contributor to emission generation is the source of power used during manufacturing.

Nearly 43% of the total carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) from materials used in a battery electric vehicles (BEV) are associated with battery cell. This includes emissions from cathode active material (CAM) production, anode active material (AAM), cell assembly, and other constituent materials. The report analyzes each of these phases of manufacturing, which will help readers understand the areas that need focus.