For all battery technologies, the contribution of lead production to the impact categories under consideration was in the range of 40 to 80 % of total cradle-to-gate impact, making it the most dominant contributor in the production phase (system A) of the life cycle of lead-based batteries.
On average, a typical new lead battery is comprised of 80% recycled material. “Environmental Impact and Life Cycle Assessment of Lead Battery and Architectural Sheet Production,” The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 2016. Over 99% of spent lead batteries in the U.S. are recycled.
This document provides an overview of the lead acid battery manufacturing process. It discusses the key steps which include alloy production, grid casting, paste mixing and pasting, plate curing, and assembly. The alloy production process involves preparing mother alloy and KL-alloy from reclaimed lead using furnaces.
The lead battery LCA assesses not only the production and end of life but also the use phase of these products in vehicles. The study demonstrates that the technological capabilities of innovative advanced lead batteries used in start-stop vehicles significantly offset the environmental impact of their production.
Lead batteries are an integral part of start-stop and micro-hybrid vehicle engine systems, which lower fuel consumption by up to 10%. Over 60% of the world’s rechargeable energy storage needs are met by lead batteries. *Updated Stat: 50% of the world’s rechargeable energy storage needs are met by lead batteries.
Lead-based batteries LCA Lead production (from ores or recycled scrap) is the dominant contributor to environmental impacts associated with the production of lead-based batteries. The high recycling rates associated with lead-acid batteries dramatically reduce any environmental impacts.