As the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) accelerates, the environmental footprint of battery production has become a critical focus area for industry and policymakers alike. Sustainable battery recycling methods are increasingly important to reduce the lifecycle impact of EVs and support the development of a circular economy in the automotive sector.
A newly completed, independently reviewed Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) confirms that Ascend Elements’ direct precursor cathode active material (pCAM) synthesis process offers significantly lower emissions than conventional battery recycling techniques.
The process reduced carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions by 49% and PM 2.5 emissions by 26%, relative to traditional methods that combine pyrolysis and hydrometallurgy.
Looking ahead, Ascend Elements plans to achieve even greater reductions by 2030, targeting an 86% decrease in CO₂e emissions and a 94% drop in PM 2.5 emissions. These improvements are expected to result from several decarbonization strategies, including using 100% renewable energy across operations, rail-based material transport, and adopting lower-carbon reagents in the manufacturing process.
The LCA was conducted following ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006 standards, and was critically reviewed by Minviro with input from a panel of three independent LCA experts.
In addition to pCAM production, the LCA examined Ascend Elements’ lithium recovery process, which extracts lithium from end-of-life batteries and manufacturing scrap. The process currently emits 2.3 kg of CO₂e per 1 kg of lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) — a significant reduction compared to spodumene mining (16.8 kg) and Chilean brine extraction (3.6 kg).
By 2030, the company aims to reduce this figure to just 0.2 kg CO₂e per kg of Li₂CO₃, representing a 99% reduction versus conventional sources. PM 2.5 emissions from lithium recovery are similarly reduced. The process is 97% less polluting than spodumene mining and 81% less polluting than Chilean brine extraction.
With additional decarbonization efforts, the goal is to reach a 99.7% reduction in PM 2.5 emissions compared to spodumene mining and 98% versus brine extraction by 2030. A summary of the new LCA study is available for download here.
Emissions data for traditional battery recycling are based on a previously published LCA study using a combined pyrolysis and hydrometallurgy process.
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