A critical comparison of LCA calculation models for the power lithium-ion battery in electric vehicles during use-phase

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly prevalent as an effective solution to reduce resource scarcity and greenhouse gas emissions. As the core component of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) play a crucial role in energy storage and conversion. When LIBs are used in long-term service, it is essential to carefully consider the impact of modeling methods on both the environmental benefits and burdens associated with their usage. In this study, eight calculation models are chosen, and multiple environmental impacts of battery use-phase are compared based on life cycle assessment. The application of different computational models produced widely varying results, and previous conclusions regarding the environmental impacts of battery usage need to be revisited. Moreover, the different models during the battery use-phase exhibits an outstanding contribution to the life cycle carbon footprint and midpoint indicators. Sensitivity analysis reveals that battery efficiency is the most sensitive parameter to environmental indicators during use. Environmental impacts during the battery use-phase should consider the characteristics of different models to ensure the reliability and comparability of the study.