Carbone 4 is launching an initiative to improve the calculation of batteries’ carbon footprint, supported by leading European battery companies

Achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will require massive efforts to decarbonize all human activities.
Transportation accounts for approximately 25% of global direct GHG emissions from combustion, and road transport (passenger and freight) accounts for three-quarters of this footprint. This sector must reinvent itself to meet the climate challenge. All levers for decarbonization will need to be utilized, through new applications, demand-side measures, and specific technological developments—particularly those related to battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

It has been observed that an electric vehicle emits fewer emissions over its entire life cycle than a conventional vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine (source: Carbone 4 study). However, emissions from battery production still account for a significant portion of the total. Reducing the carbon footprint of battery production is therefore a key factor in increasing the decarbonization potential of an EV, regardless of the country in which it is used. The Batteries Directive The European Commission's initiative aims to improve the environmental traceability and carbon performance of batteries sold in the EU over the next few years.

The battery production value chain is quite complex and raises numerous industrial, social, and environmental issues: from upstream metal extraction and processing to the production of battery cells and packs, and finally to their end of life. This value chain is currently dominated by Asia—specifically South Korea, Japan, and China—with China’s influence becoming increasingly predominant. Compounding this economic context are the COVID-19 crisis and the supply chain disruptions plaguing the automotive industry.

The development of a low-carbon, self-sufficient, and European battery manufacturing industry is therefore now a top priority for most economic and political leaders in Europe.

To reduce their carbon footprint throughout the entire life cycle, companies are currently developing solutions: lower-carbon production of metals and materials, improved optimization of cell and battery pack production, eco-designed batteries to enhance their recyclability and reusability, and new recycling processes to recover the majority of the materials contained in end-of-life batteries. However, current methods for calculating a battery’s carbon footprint do not account for these improvements, as they rely on average values rather than values specific to production processes or metal sourcing.

To address this issue, and following up on a project initiated with Verkor, which is expanding its battery plants in France, Carbone 4 Launches an Open Initiative to Improve the Calculation of Batteries' Carbon Footprints. The ability to accurately quantify the associated emissions for any battery used in road transport will be mandatory. This initiative anticipates future European regulations. This carbon footprint calculation tool will be made publicly available to help shape this low-carbon European battery manufacturing industry.

This initiative is supported by key players in Europe’s battery value chain: EDF, Eramet, Infinity Lithium, InnoEnergy, Plastic Omnium, Tokai COBEX, Verkor, and three other manufacturers to be announced at a later date.

Other partners may still join them to accelerate the development of this initiative for the battery industry.

The initial results will be available and released to the public in the second half of 2022.