Are "Green" Electric Vehicles Reliant on Polluting Battery Technology? (Electric Vehicles Land, Sea & Air USA 2012)

Mr Perry Gottesfeld, Executive Director
OK International
United States
 
Mar 28, 2012.

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Presentation Summary

  • EV batteries are a liability and present the greatest challenge to the claim of environmental sustainability.
  • The energy used to make a EV battery is dependent on battery chemistry and the extent that the battery can be recycled.
  • Steps to improve sustainability of batteries in EVs include:
a. Color code batteries by type/chemistry to facilitate improved recycling
b. Audit the environmental performance of battery suppliers
c. Invest in recycling technology for li-ion batteries
d. Pledge to take back all used batteries for recycling

Speaker Biography (Perry Gottesfeld)

Perry Gottesfeld is the Executive Director of Occupational Knowledge International (OK International). He founded OK International to build capacity to address environmental health in developing countries. OK International is a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving public health through innovative strategies to reduce exposures to industrial pollutants.
 
Gottesfeld had previously been actively involved in the environmental consulting field serving a range of corporate and government clients. He obtained his Masters of Public Health in Biomedical and Environmental Health Sciences from U.C. Berkeley. He has also been instrumental in initiating a global partnership to eliminate lead in paints being launched jointly by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. Mr. Gottesfeld also serves on the U.S. Center for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention.

Company Profile (OK International)

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Occupational Knowledge International (OK International) works in developing countries to identify, monitor, and mitigate environmental and occupational exposures to hazardous materials in order to protect public health and the environment. OK International is working to improve the environmental performance of battery manufacturing and recycling industries around the world and has developed the Better Environmental Sustainability Targets (BEST) certification, which recognizes manufacturers meeting minimum environmental standards.
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