Lithium-Ion Battery Cell
EnergyCarbon Cost Index Score
Per kg
Methodology v1.0 · Last reviewed 2026-04-07
Scope Breakdown
| Scope | kgCO₂e | % of Total | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 8 | 11% | |
| Scope 2 | 22 | 30% | |
| Scope 3 | 43 | 59% | |
| Total | 73 | 100% |
Emission Hotspots
| Emission Hotspot | Scope | Est. % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Cathode material production (NMC/LFP) | S3 | 30% |
| Cell manufacturing (electrode coating, formation cycling) | S2 | 25% |
| Mineral extraction (lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese) | S3 | 15% |
| Anode material (graphite mining and processing) | S3 | 12% |
| Cell assembly, formation, aging, and quality testing | S1 | 10% |
| Electrolyte and separator production | S3 | 8% |
Manufacturing Geography
- Region
- China (CATL, BYD — Fujian, Shenzhen), South Korea (LG, Samsung SDI)
- Grid Intensity
- 565 gCO2e/kWh (IEA 2024, China average)
Product Profile
The lithium-ion battery cell is the fundamental building block of modern energy storage — powering smartphones, laptops, EVs, and grid storage systems. This profile covers a generic cylindrical or pouch cell with NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) or LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry.
At 73 kgCO2e per kWh, this is a conservative estimate using IVL (2019) methodology and China-weighted manufacturing assumptions. Published estimates range widely from 40-120 kgCO2e/kWh depending on chemistry, factory location, and energy source.
Chemistry Matters
The cathode chemistry is the single largest variable in battery carbon footprint:
- NMC 811 (nickel-manganese-cobalt): Higher energy density but relies on cobalt and nickel supply chains with significant extraction emissions. Estimated 65-90 kgCO2e/kWh.
- LFP (lithium iron phosphate): Lower energy density but avoids cobalt entirely. Iron and phosphate have lower extraction emissions. Estimated 50-70 kgCO2e/kWh.
- NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum, used in some Tesla cells): Similar range to NMC but with reduced cobalt content.
The CCI default assumes NMC chemistry as the worst-case plausible, which is consistent with the conservative-first methodology.
Why Manufacturing Location Dominates Scope 2
Cell manufacturing is extraordinarily energy-intensive. The electrode coating, drying, formation cycling (initial charge-discharge to activate the cell), and aging steps require controlled environments with precise temperature and humidity. A single gigafactory can consume 100+ GWh of electricity annually.
When that electricity comes from China’s coal-heavy grid (565 gCO2e/kWh), Scope 2 emissions are substantial. The same factory powered by Nordic hydroelectric (30 gCO2e/kWh) would see Scope 2 reduced by ~95%. This is why companies like Northvolt (Sweden) and Tesla (Nevada, with solar) emphasize factory location as a decarbonization lever.
The Range Problem
The 40-120 kgCO2e/kWh range in the literature reflects genuine uncertainty, not just methodology differences:
- Factory energy sources vary dramatically
- Chemistry mix is shifting rapidly (LFP share growing)
- Process efficiency improves with each generation of equipment
- Recycled content is beginning to enter the supply chain
Medium confidence reflects this genuine uncertainty.
Provenance Override
Battery manufacturers may override the default score with:
- Third-party verified PCF per ISO 14067 (cell-level, not pack-level)
- Factory energy data with renewable energy certificates
- Verified chemistry and bill of materials
- Recycled content certification for cathode materials
Related Products
Related Concepts
Sources
- Dai et al. (2019) — Life Cycle Analysis of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Automotive Applications. Batteries, 5(2), 48. doi:10.3390/batteries5020048
- Kelly et al. (2020) — Cradle-to-Gate Emissions from Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing. Argonne National Laboratory, GREET model updates.
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute — The Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Lithium-Ion Batteries, 2019 update. Reports 61-106 kgCO2e/kWh.
- CATL — Environmental, Social and Governance Report 2023. Self-reported manufacturing energy and emissions data.
- IEA — Emissions Factors 2024. Grid intensities for China, South Korea used for cell manufacturing Scope 2.