This video explores the process and importance of recycling electric car batteries. It explains how batteries are recycled, the environmental benefits of recycling, and the challenges involved. The video also highlights the companies leading the charge in battery recycling and the innovations making recycling more efficient.
As more and more people drive green cars, recycling used batteries will become all the more important. Lithium-ion batteries contain toxic materials and can even catch fire if they aren't disposed of properly. Until now, automakers have lagged in the recycling of EV battery packs. Traditional methods of breaking down old batteries are expensive and only recycle a small percentage of the precious metals in the batteries. This is changing with new lithium-ion recycling facilities. They are making battery recycling more environmentally friendly. The American Battery Technology Company has found a way to essentially reverse the manufacturing process of battery packs. The process results in more recovered materials to make future batteries. Another company, called Licycle, breaks down old batteries in an efficient manner. Their goal is to use as much recovered material as possible to make recycled battery materials cheaper than mining new materials. In Norway, HydroVolt is Europe's largest battery recycling facility. They can turn 12,000 tons of used battery packs into 25,000 new EV batteries. The fully automated process recovers 95% of battery materials, including lithium. Ascend Elements out of Michigan is recapturing the most expensive part of used batteries, the cathode. The cathode is made from highly rare, mined materials like lithium and cobalt. Their process produces cheaper battery materials than mining and refining. Many automakers and battery companies are looking for innovative ways to reuse EV battery packs, including using them as energy storage units for your home. Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get recommendations for other useful content on green cars and how they can work best for you.