The lead battery LCA assesses not only the production and end of life but also the use phase of these products in vehicles. The study demonstrates that the technological capabilities of innovative advanced lead batteries used in start-stop vehicles significantly offset the environmental impact of their production.
What are the environmental impacts of lead based batteries?
Lead-based batteries LCA Lead production (from ores or recycled scrap) is the dominant contributor to environmental impacts associated with the production of lead-based batteries. The high recycling rates associated with lead-acid batteries dramatically reduce any environmental impacts.
The high recycling rates associated with lead-acid batteries dramatically reduce any environmental impacts. In terms of global warming potential, the environmental advantage of improved and advanced technology lead-based batteries during the use phase far outweighs the impacts of their production.
How important is lead production in battery production?
For all battery technologies, the contribution of lead production to the impact categories under consideration was in the range of 40 to 80 % of total cradle-to-gate impact, making it the most dominant contributor in the production phase (system A) of the life cycle of lead-based batteries.
What are the environmental impacts of lead production?
Mining and smelting have the greatest environmental impacts for lead production. The main contributors in mining and concentration are the fuel combustion and power production. Study represented 80 % of production technology but only 32 % of ILA members. Lead-based batteries LCA
Most of the environmental lifecycle impacts of lead sheet result from lead production. High recycling rate of lead sheet reduce its environmental impacts. The durability and long service life of lead sheet adds to its life cycle credentials.
The profound environmental impact of batteries can be observed in different applications such as the adoption of batteries in electric vehicles, marine and aviation industries and heating and cooling applications.