The main sources of emissions in electric vehicle (EV) battery production can be broken down into several key components:
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Material Extraction and Processing:
- Mining: Key materials like lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and graphite require extensive mining operations. For instance, for every ton of lithium mined, approximately 15 tons of CO2 are emitted.
- Refining: The refining of these materials contributes significantly to emissions due to energy-intensive processes.
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Energy Used in Manufacturing:
- A substantial portion of emissions stems from the electricity used during the manufacturing process, with studies indicating that about half of the emissions come from electricity.
- The source of this electricity is crucial; renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power significantly reduce emissions compared to fossil fuels like coal and natural gas.
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Transportation and Supply Chain:
- Emissions also arise from transporting raw materials and finished batteries, which can be influenced by transportation modes and fuel types.
These factors highlight the importance of sourcing decisions, production location, and energy mix in determining the carbon footprint of EV batteries.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-main-sources-of-emissions-in-ev-battery-production/
