It looks nice but contains something nasty. In computing, it is called a Trojan horse, or simply a Trojan – a programme that looks like a normal hyperlink, but which infects your machine when you click on it.
The electric vehicles (EV) revolution promises road transport that doesn’t burn the planet. But EVs, as they are currently made, carry a chemical Trojan in the form of long-lasting hazardous substances.
PFAS are an important enabler for Lithium-ion batteries, the primary means of energy storage for EVs, where they are used as cathode binder material, additives to the electrolyte solution, and as seals and separator coatings.
The global EV market is set for explosive growth, with tens of millions of electric cars expected to hit the roads over the next decade. This is often framed as a victory for sustainability – but the toxic Trojan is being overlooked.
The transition to EVs should not come at the expense of human health
Hidden hazards
Demand for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a PFAS-based polymer used in EV batteries, is expected to double by 2028 alone. Six years ago, less than 10% of PVDF global production was for batteries – today it is more than 40%.
At the same time, Tesla and a range of other companies are investing in battery technology relying on PTFE, another well-known PFAS polymer. By 2035, there could be as much EV battery demand per week as there was in the whole of 2019.
This means a lot more PFAS in the environment. Multiple PFAS are released during battery manufacture, which can pollute large volumes of land and water around factories. Then there is growing evidence of PFAS emissions during waste handling, including during the disposal of Lithium-ion batteries that have outlived their use, giving rise to further pollution.
This level of pollution is a problem for humanity, but also for the companies themselves. PFAS litigation cases in the US are skyrocketing, and there are a growing number of legal battles in Europe. In the EU, a comprehensive ban on PFAS is getting nearer.
What do the battery makers say?
Unless we take action now, we will lock ourselves into a deep reliance on PFAS as we scale up EV production to fight climate change.
Given the size of the problem, you might expect the world’s major battery producers to be interested in alternatives. However, when ChemSec examined the sustainability reports of the top 10 EV battery manufacturers, which together make some 95% of all EV batteries, we found very little concern.
Eight out of the 10 largest producers do not even mention PFAS in their reports.* The two companies that do, SK Innovation and Samsung SDI, both talk only about “reviewing” alternatives to PFAS battery components.
Top 10 EV battery manufacturers
The need for action
The transition to EVs is a key strategy to cut carbon emissions. But it need not, and should not, come at the expense of human health and the environment. The innovative spirit fuelling the EV revolution should also drive the search for safer alternatives.
The battery industry’s trade association in Europe, RECHARGE, agrees that alternatives to PFAS do exist. Indeed, the latest research confirms this, and some companies are already producing PFAS-free lithium-ion batteries.
The future of transportation may be electric. But unless we confront the PFAS problem head-on, it will also be toxic. As the world wakes up to the need to ban these substances, battery makers may find themselves in legal and financial trouble unless they clean up their act.
* We were not able to access BYD’s latest sustainable development report
