Electric Vehicle Battery Production Could Lead to Pollution Hotspots
Electric Vehicle Battery Production Could Lead to Pollution Hotspots
As electric vehicles (EVs) play a crucial role in the global energy transition, new research from Princeton University highlights an unexpected challenge: refining the critical minerals used in EV batteries could create pollution hotspots near manufacturing centers.
Focusing on China and India, the researchers found that if these countries were to fully localize their EV supply chains, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions could rise by up to 20% compared to current levels. Most of these emissions would stem from the refining and manufacturing of nickel and cobalt, essential materials for modern EV batteries.
"Much of the discussion around electric vehicles emphasizes reducing emissions from transportation and power sectors," said Wei Peng, the study's corresponding author. "However, our research shows that the environmental impacts of EVs extend beyond vehicle emissions and electricity usage. It's about the entire supply chain."
In their paper, published in Environmental Science & Technology, the researchers stress that countries must carefully consider how to build clean supply chains as they implement decarbonization strategies. For battery production, the study emphasizes the need for strict air pollution standards to mitigate the unintended consequences of increased emissions from EV battery manufacturing. They also propose exploring alternative battery chemistries that would reduce SO2 emissions from the refining process. "As we delve into any clean energy technology, we uncover challenges and tradeoffs," said Anjali Sharma, the study's first author. "These tradeoffs don't mean we should halt the energy transition, but they do highlight the need to address these issues proactively and minimize their impact."
