Taking into account batteries or not

Question

Hi

I'm working on a LCA on electric generator set rather than diesel.

The batteries are taken from accidented cars. Usually they are 2 years old. If the producer of the generator sets didn't use them they would go to recycling process.

battery is considered to have 15 years life time

I'm hesitant as to considering a battery ; 13/15th of a battery (not considering the 2 first years as it was used differently at that time), or no battery at all as if they had done nothing the battery would have gone to recycle process. They just take it, use it for 13 years and then it goes to the recycling process it should have gone to.

Thanks a lot on your help :)

Kevin

Answer 1

Hi Kevin,

the question is actually focusing more on the first and second life cycle of the battery. As you take the batteries from acidented cars, their first life cycle is already "done" and you need to think if the second life cycle gets any burden from the first one (it is a "reuse" case). I would recommend you to have a look at scientific literature how they solve it. If arrive with zero burden for the second life cycle, your battery arrives with no environmental impacts but collection, repurposing, operation, and end-of-life hold impacts. Hope this helps