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Abstract
Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries have been promoted as power sources of choice for next generation Electric Vehicles (EVs). Consequently, lithium, a critical raw material utilized in the manufacture of Li-ion batteries, has a significant influence on the sustainability of transportation. This study implements a framework for Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) of lithium. Specifically, the S-LCA will assess the social and socio-economic impacts found along parts of the lithium life cycle. This includes extraction and production impacts on workers, local communities, and the society. The result of this assessment will be instrumental in better understanding and tracking impacts of lithium for EV batteries over some of its life cycle processes and can be used by engineering managers to improve social and socio-economic conditions of production and consumption of lithium. In addition, this study will highlight the shortcomings of applying S-LCA to the lithium supply chain.
Key Words: Lithium, Social Life Cycle Assessment, Sustainability, Social Impacts
1. Introduction
Electric vehicles (EVs) have been promoted as a solution to the transportation sector issues of depleting global petroleum resources and climate change. In recent years, EVs have become more popular in the United States as well as globally due to their environmental friendliness and sustainability compared to conventional petroleum-powered vehicles. Widespread use of EVs could reform the transportation sector and drastically reduce oil consumption [1]. Several battery types have great potential for use in EVs including lead-acid (LA) batteries, Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries [2, 3]. However, due to their advantages over other batteries, a shiftto Li-Ion batteries has begun and it highly likely that Li-ion batteries will be used in the next generation EVs [4, 5]. Due to the potential for Li-ion batteries as power sources of choice for sustainable transport, it is important to examine the impacts along its life cycle. Therefore this preliminary study focuses on lithium, which is a key raw material, utilized in the manufacture of Li-ion batteries
Sustainability has three dimensions including environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, and social sustainability. Methodologies are available for addressing environmental sustainability and economic sustainability. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment (E-LCA), a methodology that focuses on environmental impacts, has been developed and has become an international standard. However, tools for the assessments of the...