Electric vehicles are central to the clean-energy transition, but the way their batteries are sourced and manufactured still carries a sizable environmental footprint.
Research from Annick Anctil, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State, shows that decisions about reshoring and friendshoring the battery supply chain can meaningfully shift that footprint, for better or worse.
Anctil and team’s analysis reveals that offshored battery materials often lead to the highest carbon and water impacts, largely because key inputs are produced in regions with carbon-intensive electricity.
Friendshoring, by contrast, tends to yield the lowest impacts due to cleaner energy mixes among U.S. free-trade-agreement partners.
Reshoring can bring benefits as well, but only when domestic cell and material production rely on low-carbon energy. With the right renewable-energy deployment, a 100% U.S.-made 70kW battery pack can cut its carbon footprint by more than two tons.
Another tool that Anctil investigates is recycling. Newer methods allow recycled cathode materials to approach the environmental performance of virgin feedstocks. When paired with North American production, recycling can drop new battery production footprints even further.
This research shows how policy, sourcing, and technology choices can reduce the environmental impact of EV batteries.
To explore Anctil’s work in more depth, visit:
- Environmental impacts of reshoring and friendshoring the battery supply chain(opens in new window) [Article]
- Life Cycle Assessment of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Evaluating the Impact of Recycling Methods and Location(opens in new window) [Article]
- Evaluating the cost and carbon footprint of second-life electric vehicle batteries in residential and utility-level applications(opens in new window) [Article]
- Economic and environmental feasibility of second-life lithium-ion batteries as fast-charging energy storage(opens in new window) [Article]
- Google Scholar page(opens in new window) [Website]
- Research website(opens in new window) [Website]
This story originally appeared on the College of Engineering website.
Opportunities for Partnership
The MSU Innovation Center is seeking companies and organizations interested in EV battery supply chain sustainability, life cycle assessment research, and circular economy solutions for energy storage materials. Whether you’re exploring sponsored research, licensing opportunities, or co-developing battery supply chain carbon footprint modeling tools, cathode material recycling technologies, or second-life EV battery applications, we’re ready to collaborate. Interested in partnering with MSU faculty on EV battery sustainability research and next-generation low-carbon energy storage supply chain solutions?
Visit innovationcenter.msu.edu or contact us to start the conversation.
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About the MSU Innovation Center:
The MSU Innovation Center serves as the gateway for industry to access Michigan State University’s research expertise, technologies, and talent. Through strategic corporate engagement, sponsored research partnerships, and technology transfer, the Innovation Center connects companies with faculty innovators to accelerate R&D, commercialize new technologies, and bring market-ready solutions to scale. As part of a top-tier public research university, the Innovation Center helps organizations collaborate with MSU to drive innovation and economic growth.
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