Study: cleaner battery production and lower demand can cut emissions

A University of Melbourne study found that cleaning up battery manufacturing could cut a battery's carbon footprint by 34% by 2050, avoiding 3.5–4.7 billion tons of CO2. Reducing demand would save even more—6–7.2 billion tons between 2024 and 2050.

• Battery production accounts for 0.18% of annual greenhouse gas emissions, potentially rising 10x by 2050
• Cleaner production cuts a battery's footprint by 34%, avoiding 3.5–4.7 billion tons of CO2
• Longer-lasting EV batteries cut demand 29%; curbing capacity growth adds another 23%
• Demand reductions together avoid 6–7.2 billion tons of CO2 by 2050