Across the world, businesses, governments and individual consumers are doing everything they can to improve our sustainability standards.
One of the critical ways in which we are achieving this is the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
According to research published at the start of this year, EV car sales show up by 76.3% in 2021. This means that, currently, there are over 660,000 EVs being driven in the UK, alongside more than 445,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Some of the most common questions that we get asked are about the sustainability of EV batteries, and whether or not they can be recycled. Since EVs are designed to attain the highest possible environmental standards, yes, electric car batteries are widely recyclable.
Keep reading to find a detailed breakdown of the sustainability of EV batteries, and how they are currently recycled. Here at EnviroCraft we provide collection and recycling for businesses across the UK – like battery recycling and WEEE recycling.
How do EV batteries power your car?
EV batteries store electricity, which is used to fuel the vehicles. As a result, they are a critical part of the vehicle’s power. These batteries utilise lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology, which is integral to their performance and ability to power the vehicles over long distances.
Li-ion batteries consist of cells, which contain positive and negative electrodes. These are then separated by an electrolyte (which is typically a dissolved lithium salt). When the vehicle is charging, the electric current flows into the battery, and the lithium ions in the cathode move to the anode, through the electrolyte.
Then, when the vehicle is being used, the reverse happens. The ions move from the anode to the cathode. As this occurs, electrical energy is released, and the vehicle is powered.
Different EV batteries each have their own specific capacities, which are measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The higher the kWh, the further the vehicle can be driven without the need to be recharged.
As EV technologies improve, manufacturers can make vehicles with higher battery capacities, at more affordable price points. What’s more, these advancements are also resulting in li-ion batteries with a faster charging speed and a longer lifespan.
However, as it stands, the EVs that are currently on the road will eventually need replacement li-ion batteries. And, with more EVs on the market and the road – and more second hand EVs gradually becoming available to purchase – the process of replacing these batteries needs to be carefully considered.
What materials make up an EV battery?
The majority of EV li-ion batteries are made using the following components:
- A cathode – this is typically made from either lithium cobalt oxide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium nickel cobalt aluminium oxide or lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide.
- An anode – this is typically made from either graphite, silicon or lithium titanate.
- An electrolyte – this is usually a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent.
- A separator – this is typically made from either polyethylene or polypropylene.
- Current collectors – these are usually metal foils.
- Binders
- Conductive additives
- The Battery Management System
- Protective casing and housing for the battery pack
- Cooling systems
How are EV batteries recycled?
Of the materials that are listed above, a staggering 95% of the raw materials can be recovered, using specialist battery recycling techniques. As a result, EV batteries are readily recyclable.
The recycling of EV batteries is an ever-evolving process, and new technologies and advancements are enabling the process to become more and more successful. In the UK, EV batteries are recycled at specialist recycling facilities.
To recycle the batteries, these facilities complete the following process:
- The batteries are sorted (based on the battery type and the materials that they are made from)
- Depending on the condition of the batteries, they may be refurbished or repurposed. This would mean that they can be used again.
- In some cases, the batteries are disassembled. This means that any valuable components can be extracted, and that any hazardous materials can be removed and isolated.
- The batteries are dismantled into their constituent components.
- In some cases, hydrometallurgical processes enable the specialists to recover any valuable metals from the batteries. These metals include lithium, nickel, and cobalt, for example. Alternatively, pyrometallurgical processes might be used to recover these metals.
Across the world, governments are also mandating that EV batteries be designed and manufactured in an easily recyclable way.
This means that the recycling process is continuing to become even more effective, and even easier to complete.
Alongside this, EV battery reuse projects are advancing rapidly, and becoming far more widely adopted. A fantastic example is Nissan’s usage of old EV batteries as a source of back-up power for the famous Amsterdam Arena.
And this is just the beginning – we’re excited to see how further advancements in recycling technologies make these vehicles even more sustainable.
If you need waste collection or recycling, contact our team for a quote. We cover across the UK.
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