China Li-ion Battery Carbon Footprint Database v1.1.0

Released on June 26, 2026, the China Li-ion Battery Carbon Footprint Database (CLBD) v1.1.0 was jointly developed by the China Electronics Standardization Institute, Beijing CESI Certification Co., Ltd., Tsinghua University, Kunming University of Science and Technology, and HiQLCD.

Scope and data coverage

This version contains 519 LCI datasets covering 180 products. Its scope includes:

• Upstream mineral resources and concentrates, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite.
• Battery-grade chemicals, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide monohydrate, nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, manganese sulfate, and iron phosphate.
• Battery materials, including ternary precursors, lithium iron phosphate, ternary cathode materials, artificial and natural graphite, and silicon-oxygen anodes.
• Auxiliary materials, including electrolyte, copper foil, aluminum foil, and aluminum-plastic film, as well as cells, battery packs, battery management systems, and related components.

The release provides a cut-off system model with production mix and consumption mix activities. In addition to China-average data, it includes provincial data for key minerals and related products across 16 major producing regions, including Jiangxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Yunnan, and Shanxi.

Unit process inventories are based on enterprise foreground data, supplemented by supply-chain surveys, industry statistics, and literature for modelling and consistency checks. Data linking prioritizes self-developed datasets and the HiQLCD basic database.

Database features and advantages

Standardized development and review

Dataset development and review follow ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and mainstream LCA methodological specifications. Standardized substance nomenclature, data collection, database entry workflows, product carbon footprint models, and quality evaluation are supported by HiQEditor to make development traceable and maintainable.

ILCD-compatible data

The data follows International Life Cycle Data System (ILCD) specifications. Unit process modelling produces LCI inventory results and LCIA carbon footprint factors with transparent calculations and supporting documentation.

Coverage of materials and processes

The database covers more than 180 substance types across the lithium battery value chain, from mineral resources and key metal salts to electrode materials, cells, packs, and recycling. Process-specific datasets distinguish technology routes: lithium carbonate examples include brine electrodialysis, adsorption-based extraction, lithium mica and spodumene sulfuric acid roasting, and technology mixes.

China-specific and enterprise-based data

Modelling uses enterprise foreground data rather than theoretical data. More than 85% of the data originates from 2020 onward. Self-developed datasets and the HiQLCD local database are prioritized for upstream links, while mining and washing data from major producing regions help reflect differences in resources and energy structures.

Software and format compatibility

The database supports ILCD XML and JSON and can be used with LCA software including SimaPro, GaBi, openLCA, and JimuLCA.