# Regional variations in environmental impacts of NMC 811 production: Comparative LCA study across Visegrad countries

## TL;DR

This study compares the environmental impacts of producing NMC 811 batteries in four Central European countries and Norway, showing how electricity grid sources affect emissions.

## Contribution

It provides a comparative LCA of NMC 811 battery production across Visegrad countries and Norway, emphasizing grid-related emissions differences.

## Key findings

- Poland's battery production had the highest global warming potential due to fossil-based electricity.
- Norway's cleaner electricity grid resulted in the lowest emissions for the same battery production.
- Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic reported lower global warming potential than Poland.

## Abstract

There is a high consensus that decarbonization of the mobility sector is possible by replacing internal combustion engine vehicles with battery electric vehicles. Among the lithium-ion batteries, the NMC 811 battery chemistry is commonly used in electric vehicles. This work evaluates the cradle-to-gate environmental impacts of industrial-scale NMC 811 battery production in the Visegrad countries—Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia. Norway, with its low-carbon electricity mix, is included for comparison. This study showed how differences in electricity grid profiles influence the environmental impacts of lithium ion battery (LIB) production. The battery production in Poland has the highest global warming potential and Norway, due to its cleaner electricity grid, contributed the least for the same NMC 811 battery production. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic reported lower GWP values. These variations highlight the critical importance of decarbonizing electricity grids to reduce emissions associated with LIB production.

•Cradle-to-gate LCA study of NMC 811 battery production in the Visegrad group of countries•Battery production’s environmental impact depends on a country’s electricity grid profile•Assessment of GWP for NMC 811 battery production in Visegrad nations and Norway (2019–2024)•Poland reported the highest GWP (fossil-based grid) and Hungary reported the lowest

Cradle-to-gate LCA study of NMC 811 battery production in the Visegrad group of countries

Battery production’s environmental impact depends on a country’s electricity grid profile

Assessment of GWP for NMC 811 battery production in Visegrad nations and Norway (2019–2024)

Poland reported the highest GWP (fossil-based grid) and Hungary reported the lowest

Environmental science; Energy storage; Energy systems