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Reducing the size of EV batteries and generally lowering the rate of car ownership and use can have a significant environmental impact, according to a new study.
The study, commissioned by the Climate and Community Project, a climate policy think-tank, uses UC Davis research (first discovered by the Green Car Congress). It found that limiting the size of EV batteries while maintaining current levels of US car ownership could cut lithium demand by as much as 42%. It was also found that, if car ownership and use were reduced, the demand for lithium could be reduced by 18% to 66%.
Lithium demand for US light-duty vehicles (from the Climate and Community Project study)
Reducing lithium demand will limit pollution from mining, and have both political and economic benefits. Lithium has been part of the energy security debate in the US, which is now importing large quantities of the mineral after letting its production falter.
Smaller battery packs can also help stabilize EV prices. After several years of declining prices, the cost per kwh for batteries is now hindering the affordability of EVs thanks to soaring raw material prices.
Audi battery assembly at the Brussels factory, Belgium
Range is an obsession and a distraction in EV discussions, and with infrastructure improving day by day, EVs don’t need bigger and bigger packages. Getting consumers to accept that may be difficult—although the idea of minimizing battery packs changes more in fleet vehicles, perhaps even incorporating battery swaps.
This may be more difficult, but other studies have shown that larger batteries can lead to large increases in particulate emissions, since the extra weight leads to increased tire wear. Added weight is never a good thing for a car, after all.
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