The work was prepared in the context of the Global Commodities Forum 2024, and takes into consideration the environment around the SMEP Programme project intervention to improve light mobility systems in Bangladesh, which uses lead-acid batteries in three-wheelers.

In many countries in South and South East Asia, the urgent need for affordable mobility has led to a rapid embrace of e-mobility, but often with regrettable technology choices like lead-acid batteries (LABs) used in 3-wheelers. LABs are cheap and accessible but come with serious health and environmental risks, especially when informally recycled. In Bangladesh, up to 80% of LABs are recycled informally, exposing millions, including 35 million children, to toxic lead pollution.

This report explores the connection between energy poverty and e-mobility, the challenges associated with the use of LAB vehicles and how these compare to lithium-ion batteries, as well as critical minerals in. the battery value chain.