The Crucial Role of Recycling in the Future of EV Battery Manufacturing
Have you ever wondered about the final disposition of the growing number of electric vehicle (EV) batteries that will need replacement in the near future?
You are not alone. In fact, that’s one of the biggest environmental challenges rocking the automotive industry. Even more now EVs continue to lead as a popular means of transportation for those seeking to cut their carbon footprint and save money on fuel.
Batteries last for about 100,000 to 200,000 miles, with the manufacturer’s guarantee ranging somewhere between five and eight years. They require a lot of energy and resources to produce. And utilize various metals and chemicals that can be harmful if they end up in landfills or waterways.
Given the rising popularity of EVs and the nature of their batteries, an action plan focusing on what to do with them (after they run out of life) should be accelerated on par with the market’s growth.
Without a solid short-term action plan to deal with dead EV batteries, it won't be long before we find ourselves surrounded by a mountain of unserviceable material packed with dangerous chemicals.
Just so you know what kind of figures we are talking about, in a recent article by Nick Carey, Paul Lienert, and Victoria Waldersee, consulting company Circular Energy Storage highlighted that a significant number of batteries (approximately 11.3 gigawatt hours) reached the end of their life in 2022. They predict that this figure will skyrocket to 138 gigawatt hours by 2030, which is equivalent to roughly 1.5 million EVs.
So, what options do we have on the table to mitigate the impact of dying EV batteries?
Recycling batteries is a shoe in solution to help solve the problem. The basis is the recovery of valuable materials for further reuse in the manufacturing of new EV batteries or other products. Following this strategy enables the reduction of mining dependence and raw material imports, which can have negative social and environmental consequences. For instance, incentivizing geopolitical conflicts and human rights violations to secure the mining rights of scarce minerals that are concentrated in a few countries.
Another positive benefit is that recycling might also help diversify the supply chain and lower the costs of battery production, giving a push to the economy and innovation.
The European Union (EU) is already getting its hands busy on this matter. They launched the European Battery Alliance (EBA) in 2017, which, along with the French start-up Verkor, is focusing on creating a recycling center for battery innovation. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is financing the initiative for more than 40 million euros.
Saying yes to the EV battery recycling business can create new jobs and industries and stimulate research and development of more efficient and sustainable battery technologies. In return, the emerging EV battery recycling industry can also improve the performance and lifespan of batteries, increasing competitiveness, customer satisfaction, and loyalty.
From my corner, recycling is a win-win solution for both the planet and the people.
What do you think? Let me know.
Raul Verdusco.
