Abstract:

This paper employs a life-cycle model and a process-based cost model to evaluate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption, and the related costs of remanufacturing LIBs within the context of China, which is the biggest EV producer. Four types of LIBs, i.e. NCM111, NCM622, NCM811 and NCA, and three different recycling methods, i.e. Pyrometallurgical Recycling (PR), Hydrometallurgical Recycling (HR), and Direct Physical Recycling (DPR) are analyzed. The environmental impacts of remanufacturing LIBs are assessed at both national and provincial levels. Results show that compared with manufacturing LIBs with virgin materials, remanufacturing LIBs can significantly reduce GHG emissions, water consumption, and production costs. Among the three recycling methods, DPR has the biggest potential for reducing GHG emissions, water consumption, and manufacturing costs with 29.27%–38.15%, 30.07%–41.19%, and 25.61%–36.63% reduction, depending on the different types of LIBs. Remanufacturing NCM111 cell with DPR induces the least negative environmental impacts regarding battery technologies. Sensitivity analyses show that there are still large profit margins for remanufacturing LIBs with the DPR process to bear the used LIB purchase price increase.