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Impact of recycling on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from electric vehicle production: The China 2025 case

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  • Hao, Han
  • Qiao, Qinyu
  • Liu, Zongwei
  • Zhao, Fuquan

Abstract

Electric vehicle, as the most promising clean vehicle technology, has gained high priority in global transport technology roadmap. Although electric vehicles offer multiple benefits within the vehicle use phase, their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions within the vehicle production phase are much higher than conventional vehicles. Recycling is considered as an effective way to tackle this issue. By employing a life cycle assessment framework, this study compares the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from electric vehicle production under the circumstances of no recycling and full recycling. Database is established based on the China 2025 case, where a large number of electric vehicles are expected to reach their end of life in the years to come. The results indicate that greenhouse gas emissions from electric vehicle production with and without recycling are 9.8t CO2eq. and 14.9t CO2eq., implying a 34% reduction through recycling. Specifically, the recycling of steel, aluminum and the cathode material of traction battery, among others, contribute to 61%, 13% and 20% of total reduction, respectively. Although the recycling of conventional vehicle components currently contributes the most to the overall reduction, the recycling of battery has a huge growth potential in the future. Based on the analysis, it is recommended that China should prioritize the recycling of electric vehicles, especially the batteries, to realize the cleaner production of electric vehicles.

Suggested Citation

  • Hao, Han & Qiao, Qinyu & Liu, Zongwei & Zhao, Fuquan, 2017. "Impact of recycling on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from electric vehicle production: The China 2025 case," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 114-125.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:recore:v:122:y:2017:i:c:p:114-125
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2017.02.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Zahra Homayouni & Mir Saman Pishvaee & Hamed Jahani & Dmitry Ivanov, 2023. "A robust-heuristic optimization approach to a green supply chain design with consideration of assorted vehicle types and carbon policies under uncertainty," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 324(1), pages 395-435, May.
    4. Harper, Gavin D.J. & Kendrick, Emma & Anderson, Paul A. & Mrozik, Wojciech & Christensen, Paul & Lambert, Simon & Greenwood, David & Das, Prodip K. & Ahmeid, Mohamed & Milojevic, Zoran & Du, Wenjia & , 2023. "Roadmap for a sustainable circular economy in lithium-ion and future battery technologies," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 118420, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    5. Wan, Bingbing & Chen, Weiping & Lu, Tiwen & Liu, Fangfang & Jiang, Zhenfei & Mao, Mengdi, 2017. "Review of solid state recycling of aluminum chips," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 37-47.
    6. Wang, Jie & He, Ya-qun & Wang, Heng-guang & Wu, Ru-fei, 2023. "Low-carbon promotion of new energy vehicles: A quadrilateral evolutionary game," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).

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