| Abstract Scope |
Decisions regarding expanding recycling infrastructure made in the years to come will affect spent lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling in the decades to come, it is important to optimize the deployment of technologies in a forward-thinking way to account for evolving supply chain vulnerabilities and maximize critical material recovery. Existing research often overlooks key factors, like the different types of recycling technologies, the influence of existing infrastructure, how different policy driven scenarios may affect critical material supply in the US, or ultimately, under what conditions the US can have a self-contained critical material supply chain. This study addresses these gaps by incorporating consideration for multiple time periods, recycling technologies, availability and spatial distribution of spent LIBs, and existing infrastructure. This work’s outcomes will provide more realistic decision support to inform future recycling, policy, and industrial strategies for the US to strength its domestic supply chain of critical materials integral to LIBs. |