Research on carbon footprint of lithium battery life cycle considering carbon transfer

New energy vehicles play a crucial role in addressing air pollution in the transportation sector. However, the production and disposal of their key power source, lithium battery , can release significant amounts of pollutants. This study employs a life cycle assessment considering carbon transfer to analyze the carbon footprint of lithium battery , dividing it into domestic and foreign parts. Firstly, it conducts a life cycle carbon footprint calculation for the production, use, and recycling of lithium battery in China, and expands the calculation to include the upstream raw materials, such as precursor materials , cobalt sulfate, nickel sulfate , etc. that were not previously considered in the research. Secondly, the concept of “carbon transfer” is introduced to further trace the extraction and production stages of key upstream metal materials, including lithium carbonate, cobalt ore , and nickel ore, clarifying the embodied carbon footprint associated with these critical metal materials for 1kWh lithium battery imported from abroad, as well as the carbon transfer costs incurred. Finally, the perspective shifts from individual lithium battery to international trade market, aiming to clarify the carbon transfer status of key raw materials for lithium battery and to conduct structural optimization. The results show that in a 1kWh lithium battery, production stage accounts for the largest share of the life cycle carbon footprint while the carbon transfer ratio is relatively low. Besides, the concentration of carbon transfer amount and carbon transfer cost highlight the irrationality of the carbon transfer structure of China's metal raw materials. By integrating the issue of carbon flow in trade with the life cycle carbon footprint analysis of lithium battery, this study provides new insights for reducing carbon emissions in industrial production in China. • Build life cycle assessment considering carbon transfer for lithium battery • Analyzing overseas carbon transfer and cost of metal materials in lithium battery • Analyzing the current carbon transfer situation of metal raw materials • Research shows that carbon transfer rate of 1 kWh lithium battery is relatively low.