The dirty secret of EV supply chains that can’t be overlooked

News: Increasingly, electric vehicles are being seen as a major solution to the severe emissions problem. However, many tend to ignore the carbon emissions produced during the process of manufacturing these cars.

The transport sector is responsible for almost a quarter of direct carbon-dioxide emissions from burning fuel. EVs were supposed to be the answer to this.

But while cleaner cars may eventually solve the tailpipe-emission problem, they don’t address all the damage done to the environment while making them.

How manufacturing of EVs contribute to an increase in GHG emissions?

Firstly, compared with traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, greenhouse gases released while making battery-electric cars account for a higher portion of life-cycle emissions.

Every step of making a vehicle’s 20,000-30,000 parts, involves a few thousand tonnes of aluminium, steel and other materials, produces emissions.

With increase in sale of EV vehicles, material emissions will rise to over 60% by 2040 from 18% today.

Secondly, EVs uses 45% more of aluminium than traditional vehicles. Emissions from aluminium have started rising, too, because it’s energy-intensive to mine and produce.

Thirdly, Materials used for essential parts of the battery are even more carbon intensive. And as companies try to make batteries that can take cars further, they are using nickel, cobalt and manganese, which generate still more greenhouse gases.

Finally, the metals used for making the battery-electric ones make up 47% of the manufacturing carbon footprint, according to the Greenpeace report.

What is the way forward?

Policy and car-makers should start focusing to control the emission during the process of manufacturing the EV’s. it can be done by the following ways,

Mandatory Scope 3 disclosures by car manufacturing companies: Scope 3 disclosures is defined by Greenpeace as ‘indirect emissions that are a result of an organization’s operations, but are not owned or controlled by the company‘.

Emission control strategies: These should include battery recycling, prioritizing types that use less carbon-intensive materials, or emission caps on the battery and electric vehicle manufacturing process.

Supply chain decarbonization: Small companies like Nano One Materials Corp and Euro Manganese Inc are thinking about how to decarbonize supply chains for battery parts. Other, bigger players need to catch on, too.

Source: This post is based on the article “The dirty secret of EV supply chains that can’t be overlooked” published on 8th November 2021 in Livemint