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EV Battery Production May Drive SO2 Pollution, but Clean Supply Chains and Alternative Chemistries Offer Solutions. As electric vehicles (EVs) become a cornerstone of the global shift toward sustainable energy, a new study from Princeton University highlights a pressing environmental challenge: the refining of key minerals for EV batteries could lead to sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution hotspots in regions with growing battery manufacturing sectors. This finding underscores the importance of designing cleaner supply chains and exploring alternative battery chemistries to mitigate these emissions while advancing decarbonization efforts.
The Challenge of SO2 Emissions in EV Battery Manufacturing
The study, which focuses on China and India, suggests that fully domesticating supply chains for EV production in these countries could result in a significant increase in national SO2 emissions—up to 20% compared to current levels. This is primarily due to the refining and production processes for essential materials such as nickel and cobalt, which are crucial for modern EV batteries.
Wei Peng, a professor of public and international affairs and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, explained: “While much of the conversation surrounding electric vehicles focuses on reducing emissions from transport and power sectors, our research highlights that the full impact of EVs extends beyond vehicle tailpipe emissions and electricity generation. It’s about the entire supply chain.”
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, calls for strategic planning to build clean supply chains that ensure the energy transition remains environmentally sound. The researchers argue that countries need to develop stringent pollution control standards and explore alternative battery chemistries that avoid the SO2 emissions associated with traditional EV battery production.
SO2 Emissions and Air Pollution Risks for China and India
Both China and India, which already grapple with severe air pollution, face unique challenges in addressing SO2 emissions from EV battery manufacturing. The compound, a precursor to fine particulate matter, is known to contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In fact, in 2019, around 1.4 million premature deaths in China and 1.7 million in India were linked to exposure to fine particulate matter.
Despite these challenges, China and India are at different stages of EV adoption. In China, the transition to a domestic EV supply chain is already underway, while India is still in the early stages of developing its EV infrastructure. According to the researchers, these differences highlight the distinct approaches that each country can take to address pollution from battery manufacturing.
“China needs to focus on cleaning up an existing supply chain, while India has an opportunity to build a cleaner supply chain from the ground up,” said Peng. This distinction allows for tailored strategies in each country to address pollution concerns.
Cleaning Up Power Sector Emissions and Battery Manufacturing
For India, which is still developing its domestic EV supply chain, the researchers recommend focusing first on cleaning up the power sector. By enforcing stringent SO2 pollution controls at thermal power plants, India could make a significant impact on reducing air pollution. In contrast, China, where power sector emissions are already tightly regulated, must shift its attention to reducing SO2 emissions from the EV battery manufacturing process—a sector that is less familiar with pollution control strategies.
The researchers emphasize that neglecting emissions from battery manufacturing would be a critical mistake. Even if China and India were to clean up their power sectors, fully onshoring their EV supply chains without addressing manufacturing emissions could still lead to significant SO2 pollution.
Sharma cautions, “The general assumption is that the transition to greener technologies will always result in positive climate and air quality outcomes. However, without addressing emissions from the manufacturing process, there’s a risk that we could lower carbon and nitrogen oxide emissions but increase pollution for communities near manufacturing centers.”
Global Implications: Human-Centered Decarbonization
While the study specifically examined China and India, the researchers argue that pollution from EV battery manufacturing could soon become a global issue as electric vehicle adoption increases. The problem may simply shift from one country to another unless solutions are implemented at a global scale.
“Even if India decided to import EVs instead of building a domestic supply chain, the pollution wouldn’t go away—it would just be outsourced to another country,” said Sharma. This highlights the importance of adopting a global perspective on EV production and pollution control.
In addition to the call for proactive pollution standards, the researchers also explored alternative battery chemistries as a way to reduce SO2 emissions. Specifically, they pointed to the growing use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which avoid the need for cobalt and nickel. In scenarios with high penetration of LFP batteries, the study found a notable reduction in SO2 emissions from manufacturing.
The Path Forward: Balancing Decarbonization with Air Quality
The findings from this research in reference serve as a reminder that the transition to cleaner energy technologies, like electric vehicles, must be approached with careful consideration of their broader environmental impacts. Even technologies designed to reduce carbon emissions can have unintended consequences—such as increasing local air pollution—if the entire supply chain is not properly addressed.
According to Professor Peng, “We know about many important technologies for cutting carbon emissions, but it’s equally important to consider how these technologies will affect people. The best strategies will be those that balance technology with human well-being. The study advocates for cleaner EV battery supply chains, stricter pollution standards, and alternative battery chemistries as the world continues to advance toward decarbonization. These steps are necessary to ensure that the transition to electric vehicles benefits both the environment and public health globally.
Conclusion
The research highlights a critical but often overlooked aspect of the electric vehicle transition: the environmental impact of battery production. By addressing SO2 emissions from battery manufacturing and promoting cleaner supply chains, countries like China and India can avoid pollution hotspots and ensure that the shift to electric vehicles remains a sustainable and beneficial transformation for all.
Reference: http://DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02694
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