Abstract

The rapid electrification of the global transportation sector has intensified the demand for lithium ion batteries (LIBs), prompting an urgent need to establish sustainable, traceable, and regionally resilient supply chains for battery materials. This dissertation presents a comprehensive multi material life cycle assessment (LCA) of three critical minerals, lithium, natural graphite, and nickel focusing on their extraction and processing in the province of Québec, Canada. The goal of this research is to quantify the environmental impacts of producing battery grade cathode and anode materials while identifying opportunities for emissions reduction, process optimization, and circular economy integration across the LIB value chain. Given that approximately 85% of current cathode materials originate from Asia, the work addresses a significant data gap by providing robust, North American specific LCA inventories and impact analyses for a region increasingly targeted by OEMs, policymakers, and investors under frameworks such as the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy.