Batteries

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Victor José Ferreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Energy Systems Analytics Group, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 2, Sant Adrià de Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: environmental analysis; life cycle analysis (LCA); circular economy; eco-design and sustainability of energy technologies

Dr. Gabriela Benveniste Perez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC), Jardins de les Dones de Negre 1, 2, Sant Adrià de Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: life cycle assessment; environmental footprint; sustainability assessment; renewable energy sources and energy management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Batteries are technologies allowing sustainability as part of the ecosystem of energy-transition solutions, but they also need to be truly sustainable in and of themselves. After their initial usefulness has ended, second-life batteries can be used for a variety of purposes. In this vein, the creation of practical second-life batteries and battery packs can save waste while also preventing further resource depletion on Earth. Battery reuse and material recycling at the end of their lifespan are circular economy best practices that promote sustainability in general, but the relationship between both concepts needs to be deeper explored from an LCA methodological point of view in order to enable the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set out in the in 2030 agenda under a unified scheme. Moreover, this will enable the understanding of the new EU regulations that concern the battery value chain stakeholders. This Special issue serves as a discussion forum to provide the latest research and development ongoing to overcome the challenges of battery technology in the energy transition and the circular economy as tools for the energy sector’s sustainability. Thus, we kindly invite you to share your contributions on topics including, but not limited to, advanced energy storage technologies, processes, methodologies, statistical analysis, modelling and optimization, environmental life cycle assessment, circular economy metrics development, etc., that enhance the holistic assessment of batteries from their first to second life as well as recycling to support the energy transition and circular economy in the energy sector.

Topics:

LCA assessment of batteries using innovative friendly materials free of cobalt;
Eco-design of batteries, including design for reuse, design for disassembly, design for recycling;
Assessment of second-life batteries including first and second life;
Integration of environmental assessment in digital battery passports;
Integration of battery tests data into LCA;
Circularity assessment and environmental credit allocation;
Environmental allocation approach when considering recycling and second life;
Digital twins to drive life cycle assessments of battery manufacturing processes.

Dr. Victor José Ferreira
Dr. Gabriela Benveniste Perez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Batteries is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

battery value chain
life cycle assessment
battery manufacturers
battery sustainability
second-life batteries
battery recycling
circular EoL
recycled content
digital battery passport
harmonised models

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 4409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Economic and Environmental Viability of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling—Case Study in Two Canadian Regions with Different Energy Mixes

by Giovanna Gonzales-Calienes, Miyuru Kannangara and Farid Bensebaa

Batteries 2023, 9(7), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9070375 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5590

Abstract

Lithium-ion battery (LIB) pack is the core component of electric vehicles (EVs). As the demand is continuously increasing, it puts a lot of strain on the battery raw material supply chains. Likewise, the large quantity of spent LIBs from different sources will add to the complexity of end-of-life (EoL) management. Battery recycling processing is a potential source of critical cathode precursor materials as an alternative to virgin raw material sourcing. Indeed, metal sulfates (nickel, cobalt, and manganese) and lithium carbonate could be recovered through EoL processing. This study aims to provide an economic and environmental life cycle sustainability assessment of recycled battery materials. This assessment is based on a bottom-up approach considering geographical boundaries and process data inputs. The two sources of critical cathode battery materials, virgin and recycled battery materials, are compared based on economic and environmental indicators. This study identified the province of Quebec in Canada as the geographical boundary where several battery processing plants have been recently announced. The best available recycling process (hydrometallurgy) was selected. For the virgin materials, this study considers the option of importing from other jurisdictions by using global average supply chain values. Furthermore, a comparison of alternative supply chain configurations was performed using a spatially differentiated approach. The main findings of this study are as follows: (i) the environmental credit of recycled cathode active materials (CAMs) is estimated as −6.46 kg CO_2e/kg CAM, and (ii) the overall cost and environmental impacts of producing LIB cathode active material from recycled battery materials can be 48% and 54% lower than production from virgin materials, respectively, considering the upstream, midstream, and downstream stages of the CAM supply chain. The main drivers for the reduction in these financial costs and emissions are the local transportation and the hydrometallurgical process. The assessment results provide insights to support the development of appropriate policies and R&D solutions adapted to local considerations as well as offer additional possibilities to improve the design of sustainable supply chains for LIB recycling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methodological Aspects of First- and Second-Life Recycling in the Direction of a Harmonized Life Cycle Assessment of Batteries)

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Graphical abstract

Review

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19 pages, 909 KiB

Open AccessReview

Regeneration of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Batteries: State-of-the-Art Review, Current Challenges, and Future Perspectives

by Rafael Martínez-Sánchez, Angel Molina-García and Alfonso P. Ramallo-González

Batteries 2024, 10(3), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030101 - 14 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1359

Abstract

Batteries have been integral components in modern vehicles, initially powering starter motors and ensuring stable electrical conditions in various vehicle systems and later in energy sources of drive electric motors. Over time, their significance has grown exponentially with the advent of features such as “Start & Stop” systems, micro hybridization, and kinetic energy regeneration. This trend culminated in the emergence of hybrid and electric vehicles, where batteries are the energy source of the electric traction motors. The evolution of storage for vehicles has been driven by the need for larger autonomy, a higher number of cycles, lower self-discharge rates, enhanced performance in extreme temperatures, and greater electrical power extraction capacity. As these technologies have advanced, so have they the methods for their disposal, recovery, and recycling. However, one critical aspect often overlooked is the potential for battery reuse once they reach the end of their useful life. For each battery technology, specific regeneration methods have been developed, aiming to restore the battery to its initial performance state or something very close to it. This focus on regeneration holds significant economic implications, particularly for vehicles where batteries represent a substantial share of the overall cost, such as hybrid and electric vehicles. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of battery technologies employed in vehicles from their inception to the present day. Special attention is given to identifying common failures within these technologies. Additionally, the scientific literature and existing patents addressing regeneration methods are explored, shedding light on the promising avenues for extending the life and performance of automotive batteries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Methodological Aspects of First- and Second-Life Recycling in the Direction of a Harmonized Life Cycle Assessment of Batteries)

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