The demand for sustainable automotive alternatives is continuously growing, as the vehicle and transportation sectors have been discovered to be some of the largest global emitters of greenhouse gases. This has driven the electric revolution, with electric cars and batteries leading in the race towards a more sustainable future. The world’s most prolific carmakers are already involved, with industry giants currently in pole position. This forward-facing, sustainable movement is only expected to grow, meaning it’s essential for electric vehicle and EV battery manufacturers to stay ahead of the competition. This is where compressed air comes in!
Before we get to the importance of compressed air in the EV and battery manufacturing industry, let’s first take a look at the global supply chain. The basic components of the electric vehicle battery manufacturing cycle include:
Upstream: This stage refers to the mining processes that take place to obtain new raw materials, such as lithium and nickel, that are used in creating the batteries.
Midstream: The raw materials collected are then refined and processed, which purifies them. This is called the ‘Midstream’ stage and enables the creation of anode and cathode battery materials. These materials are then sold on to firms that produce the battery cells.
Downstream: Next is the ‘Downstream’ stage of the EV battery manufacturing cycle. This refers to the battery manufacturers, who take these materials and turn them into the final product. They are then able to be put into the electric vehicles.
End of life: This is when the EV batteries no longer work or serve their purpose.
Reuse of Recycle: When the batteries reach their ‘End of life’, they can be reused or recycled; two sustainable methods to reduce waste and unsafe disposal.
When it comes to manufacturing the electric vehicles themselves, compressed air is integral to a variety of processes and applications. This includes the powering of air-operated tools, blow-off applications, stamping, welding, painting, assembly, conveying products, and the servicing and repair of EVs. Like with battery manufacturing, high-quality, clean, dry compressed air is essential, particularly to prevent moisture from rusting equipment and contaminants from ruining the paintwork!
Environmental concerns and increasingly strict emission regulations have driven the EV revolution and will continue to do so. But, whilst creating more sustainable methods of transport is incredibly important, so is ensuring the compressed air that your processes require is promoting a greener future. A poorly designed compressed air system will lead to huge energy costs and indirect CO2 emissions. Therefore, the ultimate goal is to ensure that your compressed air system can operate energy efficiently and sustainably whilst also producing high-quality, pollutant and contamination-free air. This will ensure that all areas of your EV and battery plant are promoting a more sustainable future, not only through the end product but also throughout the entire manufacturing process!
For more information on why high-quality, sustainable air is important or how you can achieve it, please take a look at out Whitepaper!
