Battery Recycling: The Next Big Challenge For The EV Boom
With a surge in electric vehicle demand, the need for EV batteries and metal batteries such as cobalt and lithium has increased dramatically. However, can the US (along with other countries) follow the demand for this increased metal battery while maintaining recycling efficiency? This is a good question, but has no simple answer.
Metal batteries cause serious health hazards if not handled properly
Lithium-ion batteries are used in most electric vehicles. As the name suggests, this comes from metals like lithium and cobalt. According to EPA, lithium-ion batteries are severe fire danger if not recycled correctly. Prolonged metal exposure such as cobalt, on the other hand, can also cause damage to the human body from time to time.
When the lithium-ion batteries are not recycled properly, they end up in places like landfills. Here, the possibility they will be destroyed or damaged increase. In turn, this makes it even more likely that the battery will end leak to the ground or enter the water supply of the area.
This raises risks with very real consequences. Because the request for the EV vehicle and the battery that turned on it rose, it was very important that we did not ignore the right battery recycling standards. Unfortunately, according to a new article, US recycling efforts are not possible to compensate for the entry of the upcoming EV battery.
At present, there is no federal recycling mandate in the US for lithium-ion batteries. This makes the “back door” wide open for various companies to begin to embrace the method of disposal that is not safe to meet the increasing needs.
Europe regulates the rules for metal batteries EV End of Life
In the EU, parliament members are considering implementing a number of regulations related to EV battery disposal. These rules will require that 70% of each EV battery can be recycled. They will also mandate that all metals in the battery are restored after being removed. So far, both producers and recycled companies are on the board with regulations, which are likely to pass at the end of the year.
Together with the US, this new Europe has experienced significant encouragement for electric vehicles. This causes increased cobalt and lithium demand throughout the EU. In fact, experts estimate that Lithium’s demand will reach three to four million metric tons in 2030. While other countries are slower, they can expect similar leaps in the demand for metal batteries.
The responsibility of the EV battery manufacturer
In 2040, EV vehicles are expected to form 70% of all vehicles in Europe. However, there is no standard method for recycling the EV battery. In addition, the EV battery recycling has proven a difficult process.
One of the proposed methods, for example, will melt the lithium-ion battery in the furnace at high temperatures. Unfortunately, this process can cause dangerous gas to be made. Other techniques will remove each battery component and separate them. However, this method has not captured because of the time involved.
Fortunately, more solutions might be revealed. For example, recycled lithium-ion batteries can be used again to help energy storage. If it is proven successful, the old battery can be part of a greater global shift towards a self -sufficiency.
The part of the problem with complications and limitations behind the lithium-ion recycling comes from the battery structure itself. Lithium-ion batteries are quite complex in material and structure. For this reason, recycling consists of several different separation processes, all of which remain quite boring.
All things are considered, the demand for EV batteries is likely to run faster than the method currently owned by most countries to throw them safely. And while some believe that the responsibility for recycling this battery safely must go to the battery manufacturer itself, this thought is far from widespread adoption.
