- Batteries
- Critical minerals
- Life cycle assessment (LCA)
- Public policy
- Supply chain
Description
As the electrification of devices intensifies, the cumulative global manufacturing of lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cells could increase by fivefold by 2030. At the end of their service life, the batteries may be recovered or become toxic waste. North America therefore has a unique opportunity to secure and build a resilient supply chain based on circular principles. The region has the potential to play a leadership role in the extraction, manufacturing and recovery of critical minerals for Li-ion batteries, including rare minerals and those in short supply (e.g., lithium).
As the geopolitics of Li-ion batteries emerge, the project aims to determine a strategic plan for a regional supply system based on the circular economy. More specifically, it seeks to:
- Estimate the strengths, opportunities, vulnerabilities and risks of the current Li-ion battery supply chain in North America and among its international suppliers.
- Conceptualize and map the regional Li-ion battery infrastructure.
- Model the impact of implementing circular strategies.
- Identify investment opportunities.
Affiliated research axes
Axis 2: Planning Optimization
2.3 – Establish and maintain local, national and international circularity inventories2.4 – Plan and optimize the production of products and delivery of services in the context of the circular economy
Axis 3: Resource and Product Maximization
3.1 – Map the knowledge and potential of product circularization3.3 – Identify models for product circularization strategies
