Sustainability for all? The challenges of predicting and managing the potential risks of end-of-life electric vehicles and their batteries in the Global South

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Luisa Prates - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Technische Universität Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Daniel Karthe - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES), Technische Universität Dresden, Deutsch-Mongolische Hochschule für Rohstoffe und Technologie (Autor:in)
  • Lulu Zhang - , Professur für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement und Betriebliche Umweltökonomie, United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Autor:in)
  • Lili Wang - , Maastricht University (Autor:in)
  • Jack O’Connor - , United Nations University-Institute for Environment and Human Security (Autor:in)
  • Halim Lee - , United Nations University - Institute for Integrated Management of Material Fluxes and of Resources (UNU-FLORES) (Autor:in)
  • Christina Dornack - , Professur für Abfall- und Kreislaufwirtschaft (Autor:in)

Abstract

The transition from fossil-fuel-based internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles plays a key role to decarbonize road transport and mitigate climate change. Even though this transition is still in its infancy, it is important to consider not only its environmental benefits but also its potential side effects. The current electric vehicle fleet is expected to increase from 2.4 million in 2020 to 81 million in 2050 (Slowik et al., How technology, recycling, and policy can mitigate supply risks to the long-term transition to zero-emission vehicles. International Council on Clean Transportation. https://theicct.org/publication/how-technology-recycling-andpolicy-can-mitigate-supply-risks-to-the-long-term-transition-to-zero-emission-vehicles. Accessed 14 Feb 2022, 2020), when more than half of all new cars sold are predicted to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). End-of-life (EOL) BEVs and their components (particularly the batteries) are far more challenging to manage than their fossil-fueled predecessors as they contain large amounts of chemical substances that constitute potential hazards to the environment and human health and safety. The paper discusses relevant topics for understanding future risks of transition to electric mobility in the Global South countries, which include the internationally used vehicle fluxes; waste management challenges for EoL BEV and its lithium-ion batteries (LIB); environmental and human health impacts of EoL LIBs disposal and policies and regulations for the e-vehicle life cycle. Recommendations to support the development of science-based policies to close regulation gaps of the used electric vehicle international trade flow, avoid pollution-shifting and guarantee a sustainable transition to e-mobility in the Global South countries are given. As a conclusion, an integrated approach from international and national stakeholders is fundamental to guarantee strong policies and regulations as well as to support the development of a sound management of EoL EV and LIBs in the Global South countries and help pave the way to a global circular economy.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer143
FachzeitschriftEnvironmental earth sciences
Jahrgang82
Ausgabenummer6
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - März 2023
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0000-0001-5081-2558/work/160480062

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Circular economy, e-mobility, Electric vehicles, Lithium ion batteries, Used vehicles trade, Waste management