Sustainability for All? The challenges of predicting and managing the potential risks of end-of-life electric vehicles and their batteries in the Global South

Abstract

The transition from fossil-fuel-based internal combustion vehicles to electric vehicles plays a key role to decarbonize road transport and mitigate climate change. Even though this transition is still in its infancy, it is important to consider not only its environmental benefits but also its potential side-effects. The current electric vehicle fleet is expected to increase from 2.4 million in 2020 to 81 million in 2050 (Slowik et al. 2020), when more than half of all new cars sold are predicted to be battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). End-of-life (EOL) BEVs and their components (particularly the batteries) are far more challenging to manage than their fossil-fueled predecessors as they contain large amounts of chemical substances that constitute potential hazards to the environment and human health and safety. The paper discusses relevant topics for understanding future risks of transition to electric mobility in the Global South countries, which include the international used vehicle fluxes; waste management challenges for EoL BEV and its lithium-ion batteries (LIB); environmental and human health impacts of EoL LIBs disposal and policies and regulations for the e-vehicle life cycle. Recommendations to support the development of science-based policies to close regulation gaps of the used electric vehicle international trade flow, avoid pollution-shifting and guarantee a sustainable transition to e-mobility in the Global South countries are given. As a conclusion, an integrated approach from international and national stakeholders is fundamental to guarantee strong policies and regulations as well as to support the development of a sound management of EoL EV and LIBs in the Global South countries and help pave the way to a global circular economy.

A Future Perspective on Waste Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles in Lao PDR: Current Status and Challenges

“…In recent years, EoL batteries from EVs have been increasing. If the waste batteries are not handled properly, they may lead to heavy metals contaminating the soil via the leaching of hazardous chemicals [ 52 ]. Thus, anthropogenic activities are a crucial indicator of increasing toxic, hazardous waste in soil from wastes of production processes and usage that, without proper management, impact human health via the food chain from the uptake of soil contaminants by plants or food crops [ 53 ].…”