Incorporating Stakeholder Perspectives in Industrial Ecology: A Justice-Oriented Analysis of the Lithium-ion Battery Value Chain

Electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a central role in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. The resulting demand for LIBs will require a significant ramp-up in the extraction and refinement of raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are energy-intensive to mine and impact the local environment and population in the producing regions 3–6. To create a sustainable transportation future, it is essential to minimize adverse impacts and reduce reliance on raw materials through reuse and recycling. In this dissertation, the study team leader will analyze the supply chain and recycling of LIBs using a mixed-methods approach that integrates qualitative research and life cycle assessment. Chapters 1 and 2 focus on sustainable production, using Lithium Valley in California as a case study to situate the impacts of lithium extraction in the local context and create an environmental justice-oriented research agenda. Chapter 3 uses semi-structured interviews to better understand the pathways retired batteries may follow a tend-of-life, informing policy recommendations and research that will support a robust reuse and recycling system. This research responds to identified gaps within the field of LCA while contributing a more nuanced, accurate understanding of the LIB value chain.

• Record URL:
  https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/incorporating-stakeholder-perspectives-industrial-ecology-justice-oriented-analysis-lithium

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $30000
• Contract Numbers:

  DOT 69A3551747114

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  1 Shields Ave
  Davis, California  United States  95616
• Project Managers:

  Iacobucci, Lauren

• Performing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  1 Shields Ave
  Davis, California  United States  95616
• Principal Investigators:

  Slattery, Margaret

  Kendall, Alissa

• Start Date: 20221001
• Expected Completion Date: 20230930
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Battery parts; Electric vehicles; Environmental justice; Life cycle analysis; Lithium batteries; Production methods; Raw materials; Recycled materials; Stakeholders; Sustainable transportation
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Materials; Policy; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01855041
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3551747114
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 18 2022 6:05PM