Ma Ruifei, Tao Shengyu, Sun Xin, Ren Yifang, Sun Chongbo, Ji Guanjun, Xu Jiahe, Wang Xuecen, Zhang Xuan, Wu Qiuwei, Zhou Guangmin
Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, China.
Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society (IREES), Energy and Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Nat Commun. 2024 Sep 2;15(1):7641. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52030-0.
Reuse and recycling of retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries offer a sustainable waste management approach but face decision-making challenges. Based on the process-based life cycle assessment method, we present a strategy to optimize pathways of retired battery treatments economically and environmentally. The strategy is applied to various reuse scenarios with capacity configurations, including energy storage systems, communication base stations, and low-speed vehicles. Hydrometallurgical, pyrometallurgical, and direct recycling considering battery residual values are evaluated at the end-of-life stage. For the optimized pathway, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries improve profits by 58% and reduce emissions by 18% compared to hydrometallurgical recycling without reuse. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) batteries boost profit by 19% and reduce emissions by 18%. Despite NMC batteries exhibiting higher immediate recycling returns, LFP batteries provide superior long-term benefits through reuse before recycling. Our strategy features an accessible evaluation framework for pinpointing optimal pathways of retired EV batteries.
退役电动汽车（EV）电池的再利用和回收提供了一种可持续的废物管理方法，但面临决策挑战。基于基于过程的生命周期评估方法，我们提出了一种在经济和环境方面优化退役电池处理途径的策略。该策略应用于具有不同容量配置的各种再利用场景，包括储能系统、通信基站和低速车辆。在电池寿命结束阶段，对考虑电池残值的湿法冶金、火法冶金和直接回收进行了评估。对于优化后的途径，与不进行再利用的湿法冶金回收相比，磷酸铁锂（LFP）电池利润提高了58%，排放量减少了18%。镍钴锰酸锂（NMC）电池利润提高了19%，排放量减少了18%。尽管NMC电池具有更高的即时回收回报，但LFP电池通过在回收前进行再利用提供了更好的长期效益。我们的策略具有一个易于使用的评估框架，用于确定退役电动汽车电池的最佳途径。
