Framework and drivers for sustainable life cycle management of electric vehicle batteries

Electric vehicle (EV) adoption is projected to raise global battery demand and pose sustainability challenges driven by the demand for critical minerals, energy-intensive and costly production, and end-of-life infrastructure requirements. A broad array of stakeholders and decision-makers are responsible for, or impacted by, battery life cycle management decisions that influence sustainability outcomes. We present a framework spanning the full battery life cycle and identify consequences and sustainability trade-offs for stakeholders. We identify 17 key drivers that determine the life cycle sustainability performance of batteries. The framework is designed to help decision-makers assess trade-offs and avoid unintended consequences across life cycle stages, stakeholders, and impact categories. Its development was informed by a critical review of the battery sustainability literature and stakeholder interviews across different sectors and fields of expertise. We highlight information transparency, infrastructure investment, systems-based policy and solutions, and multi-stakeholder collaboration as key enablers for sustainable battery life cycle management. Insights from the framework provide guidance for current and future battery management. To remain competitive, the U.S. automotive industry must manage costs as well as environmental and social impacts – this framework provides guidance across all three pillars of sustainability. The framework encourages a holistic assessment of the battery life cycle as an integral part of management decisions and reinforces the need to consider the diverse range of sustainable development goals.