Life Cycle Assessment of NMC Critical Minerals (mine to material) in Québec - CME Seminar Series Fall 2025

The global surge in electric vehicle (EV) production is driving significant changes in supply chains, particularly in North America, where new lithium-ion battery (LIB) facilities and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) assembly plants are being established to support a wave of new EV models.

The recent expansion has led to a significant increase in demand for essential minerals required for lithium-ion battery (LIB) packs. This surge in demand is driving a strategic shift in sourcing away from traditional suppliers in Asia, particularly China, towards North American sources, notably Canada and the United States.

As North America builds out its LIB infrastructure, developing a sustainable circular economy becomes essential, and conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of the emerging supply chain is a crucial step in that process. Lithium, one of the most vital minerals for LIBs, is abundant in Québec, Canada, which hosts one of the world’s largest spodumene ore deposits. This research aims to perform an LCA on battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LiOH•H₂O), as well as nickel, manganese cathode materials, and graphite active anode materials (AAM) produced in Canada.

About the speaker:

Gary Vegh is currently pursuing his PhD in the lithium-ion battery research group under the supervision of globally recognized battery expert, Dr. Karim Zaghib. With over 35 years of experience in environmental science, Vegh serves as co-CEO of an environmental software company that supports more than thirty industries, including the automotive sector.

He actively contributes to the Responsible Battery Work Group, of the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP), a consortium focused on assessing environmental impacts of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. His work informs leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company.

Vegh holds a Bachelor of Science with Specialization in Chemistry (1988) and a Graduate Diploma (1990) from Concordia University.