...
Research in Australia found that only 2% of the country’s 3,300 tonnes of lithium-ion waste was recycled.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01735-z
Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries — already widely used in laptops and smartphones — will be the beating heart of electric vehicles and much else. They are also needed to help power the world’s electric grids, because renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, still cannot provide energy 24 hours a day. The market for lithium-ion batteries is projected by the industry to grow from US$30 billion in 2017 to $100 billion in 2025.
...
A Manufacturing a battery pack alone would generate 74% more emissions than the entire conventional car.
...
In addition to a review of the literature, CRS focused on the results of one study in order to present an internally consistent example of an LCA. This specific study finds that the life cycle of selected lithium-ion BEVs emits, on average, an estimated 33% less GHGs, 61% less volatile organic compounds, 93% less carbon monoxide, 28% less nitrogen oxides, and 32% less black carbon than the life cycle of ICEVs in the United States. However, the life cycle of the selected lithium-ion BEVs emits, on average, an estimated 15% more fine particulate matter and 273% more sulfur oxides, largely due to battery production and the electricity generation source used to charge the vehicle batteries. Further, the life cycle of the selected lithium-ion BEVs consumes, on average, an estimated 29% less total energy resources and 37% less fossil fuel resources, but 56% more water resources. These results are global effects, based on the system boundaries and input assumptions of the study.