As environmental policies in Europe, the US and elsewhere demand more electrification of transport and many governments are poised to limit sales of internal combustion engine vehicles as early as 2030, the need for EV batteries will grow exponentially. However, supplies of critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, graphite and cobalt are already being constrained by a variety of environmental and political factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Extracting these minerals from EV batteries, whose storage capacity is dwindling, could help to mitigate the crisis. Currently, waste from battery factories provides much of the raw material for battery recycling operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critics of electric vehicles predict that there will be vast landfills filled with decomposing EV batteries, leaking their toxic materials into the soil and air. But that is unlikely to happen. These \u201cguts\u201d are valuable, and there is a market for them. For example, recycling company Redwood Materials reported in March 2023 that it had recovered more than 95% of the critical minerals in 250 tons of EV and hybrid vehicle batteries it collected in a pilot project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 1.2 million batteries from electric passenger and commercial vehicles are expected to be scrapped globally by 2030, with the number rising to 50 million by 2050. Recycling just half could reduce the need for new mining operations and reduce demand for virgin battery minerals by up to 28%, according to a study by the International Clean Transportation Council in San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will take two and a half decades for recycled material to make a significant difference due to the time it takes for a battery to break down. EV batteries are warranted for at least eight years. Real-world experience shows that many will last much longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While recycling can be a valuable resource, issues remain, such as controlling where the recovered material ends up. In an effort to promote the development of a domestic supply chain, the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 prohibits federal incentives for electric vehicles with battery materials sourced from several countries, including China and Russia. However, much of the material recovered by U.S. recyclers is shipped overseas for processing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some recycling operations also raise environmental concerns because they use a process that requires burning used batteries, which releases toxic gases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Newer recyclers typically use a process called hydrometallurgy, which uses reusable acids to leach minerals from battery cells. The process uses less energy and has a smaller environmental impact than incinerating batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Battery recycling companies also face competition from those who prefer to use decommissioned EV batteries for stationary storage of energy generated in solar and wind farms. These batteries retain significant storage capacity, just not enough to adequately power a vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The International Council on Clean Transportation study estimated that half of all retired EV batteries will be used for stationary storage. Inevitably, the recycling capacity to reduce the need for mineral mining will decrease if the proportion of batteries destined for energy storage increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is also some concern that a global shift to EV battery chemistries such as lithium iron phosphate, which contain less minerals than today\u2019s nickel- and cobalt-rich batteries, could dampen investor enthusiasm for funding EV battery recycling activities. As electric vehicle sales grow\u2014and most industry observers say this is a given, despite the recent slowdown in the growth curve\u2014the number of batteries ultimately available for recycling will increase. Recycled minerals are too valuable to throw away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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