Lithium-Ion Battery Cell

Material Composition Assumptions

This assessment assumes a standard cylindrical lithium-ion battery cell with approximate capacity of 3000 mAh and total weight of 250 grams. The material composition includes nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode material comprising approximately 35% of total weight, graphite anode material at 20% of weight, and lithium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte solution representing 15% of mass. The remaining components consist of aluminum current collectors for the cathode side at 12% of weight, copper current collectors for the anode at 10% of weight, polypropylene separator material at 5% of weight, and various binder materials including polyvinylidene fluoride at 3% of total mass.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary manufacturing occurs in China, which produces approximately 75% of global lithium-ion battery cells. Chinese facilities typically operate on the national electrical grid with an average carbon intensity of 540 gCO2 per kWh, reflecting the country’s continued reliance on coal-fired power generation. This manufacturing concentration results from established supply chains for raw materials, significant government investment in battery production capacity, and proximity to major electronics manufacturers. The high grid carbon intensity in China contributes substantially to the overall carbon footprint through energy-intensive manufacturing processes including electrode coating, cell assembly, and formation cycling.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	540 gCO2/kWh	74 kg CO2-eq	Baseline
Sweden	45 gCO2/kWh	52 kg CO2-eq	-30%
Germany	350 gCO2/kWh	68 kg CO2-eq	-8%
United States	400 gCO2/kWh	70 kg CO2-eq	-5%
Poland	650 gCO2/kWh	78 kg CO2-eq	+5%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Supplier-specific electricity grid carbon intensity data with renewable energy procurement documentation showing actual energy mix used during manufacturing processes.

2. Material sourcing documentation specifying geographic origin of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese with associated extraction and processing emission factors for each raw material.

3. Manufacturing process energy consumption data including detailed electricity usage for electrode coating, cell assembly, formation cycling, and quality control testing operations.

4. Cathode active material supplier carbon footprint data with specific emission factors for nickel manganese cobalt oxide or lithium iron phosphate production including precursor material processing.

5. Transportation logistics data covering material shipment from extraction sites to processing facilities and final assembly locations with associated freight emission calculations.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for a single lithium-ion battery cell with 1 kWh capacity equivalent, excluding use phase and end-of-life impacts.
• Scope 1 emissions account for direct manufacturing processes including solvent recovery and cell formation, while Scope 2 reflects electricity consumption during production.
• Scope 3 dominates the footprint through upstream material production, particularly cathode active material synthesis and raw material extraction processes.
• The functional unit is defined as one battery cell capable of storing 1 kWh of electrical energy under standard testing conditions.
• Packaging materials, facility construction impacts, and employee transportation are excluded from the assessment boundary.
• Significant data gaps exist for emerging battery chemistries and recycled material content impacts on overall carbon footprint calculations.