GoKawiilMelbourne study quantifies lithium-ion battery production emissions through 2050
Researchers led by Haiwei Zhou at the University of Melbourne estimate that emissions from manufacturing lithium-ion batteries currently make up about 0.18 percent of global annual greenhouse gas output. Using International Energy Agency demand scenarios for electric vehicles and energy storage, they project this figure could grow more than tenfold by 2050 as battery use expands. The study compares demand-side strategies, such as reducing the number of batteries built, against supply-side fixes like efficient manufacturing, recycling, and sourcing less energy-intensive materials.