# Sustainable Solutions: Battery EV Recycling for a Greener Future

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/02/sustainable-solutions-battery-ev-recycling-for-a-greener-future/
- Published: 2022-02-23T14:56:58-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Battery EV Recycling 

As reported by [Canary Media](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/ev-battery-recycling-is-costly-these-five-startups-could-change-that)
it is time. The public is finally buying electric vehicles in substantial numbers.
So we are a pivotal step toward decarbonizing transportation. But without changes
to how the industry does business isn’t good. Because the surge in EVs could eventually
leave the planet awash. All in the batteries that make them run.

As [CNET](https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/why-electric-car-battery-recycling-matters-as-much-as-the-cars-themselves/)
reports:

## Scale is good, and a problem for battery EV recycling

EVs are heading toward major adoption. For that’s thanks to improving technology
and prices. In addition, [government mandates](https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/california-gas-diesel-car-truck-sales-ban-2035-newsom/#ftag=CAD-00-10aag7d),
[carmaker pledges](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/business/gm-zero-emission-vehicles.html#:~:text=G.M.-,Will%20Sell%20Only%20Zero%2DEmission%20Vehicles%20by%202035,become%20carbon%20neutral%20by%202040.).
Also climate doom-scrolling and soaring gas prices.

[Paul Anderson, professor of strategic elements and materials sustainability](https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/chemistry/anderson-paul.aspx)
at the University of Birmingham had something to say. For he told the BBC that “
[the rate at which we’re growing the [EV] industry is absolutely scary](https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56574779)“.
That’s in terms of a “battery bomb” in 10 to 15 years. One that will present a lot
of tired EV batteries that need a responsible place to go. Yes, [combustion cars will dominate the roads for decades to come](https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/videos/how-are-all-those-combustion-engine-bans-going-to-work-out/#ftag=CAD-00-10aag7d).
However, EVs will achieve critical mass at the same time.

[Lithium-ion batteries already power](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/07/solid-state-batteries-electrolyte-safer-powerful-alternative-lithium-ion/)
phones. In addition to laptops. Then let’s talk scooters. In addition to e-bikes.
Finally and toothbrushes. But global battery manufacturing is growing rapidly. Especially
to serve the newly voracious demand. All for electric cars. That which hit a record
[8.6 percent of global new car sales](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/electric-vehicles/chart-global-ev-sales-more-than-doubled-in-2021)
in 2021.

Now that the [growth trajectory is clear](https://greenlivingguy.com/2024/08/ev-battery-materials-exploring-the-latest-innovations/).
Especially for battery-powered cars.

So the clean energy industry needs to figure out how to deal. Most importantly with
the ensuing waste. In addition, lithium-ion batteries contain materials. Those that
shouldn’t be dumped in a landfill.

Moreover and old batteries can catch fire it’s bad. For if they aren’t cared for
properly not good. But so far, battery [recycling technology](https://greenlivingguy.com/2016/06/volunteer-with-nature-conservancy-for-the-earth/)
and processing capacity have lagged. That’s way far behind manufacturing.

# Battery Recycling for EV Car 

Recycling of [electric car batteries](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/03/electric-car-battery-debunking-myths/)
can be easier. Also cheaper and more environmentally friendly. That’s according 
to a new scientific article. It’s from from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.
One which outlines an optimized recycling process.

The research, [published in the journal Waste Management](https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUcE9WXIQLVn4IkljGwkTyaCxTuRzNUah270bDEhNltCiFpWXD5NOvZoKgey7vniZGA-3D-3D_6KY_INCA-2FPyIhC63I1FHQ-2FtwXKsMamN5mBOz6hLuWKtOi7lGFa34m3XTTCutzwz1Sll-2BARJKn3U1QJ2lMzKpz3H0k3LbC-2B3FP-2BDZQ3BsERHll3BZcQFdXB0amGrbJGhf-2FCWwYKRW8uugfr-2FPUB4-2B8gzaa1DVH5g5z1upBOkcpo0i4pq4o6GUp3zbm-2B4nGi5MXjobaiDjd4O-2FNtPnLztgLQzIXFx8tRC4nos-2FL4xATFjiXn67zdK9bFHLyRJoaUphduoUwZt-2BvO62oa73LEebm1v5t4I7ZKXqDLpase3PAKxQvglqbB2sF4qH32twmvBhTusCPTD-2FKBMTlyhaIelPZlhtp5EfoS9Y0hiZm6JzBqZO708-3D),
has been carried out. That’s by some of the world’s foremost experts. All in the
field. It also represents a vital step. Especially towards the electro mobility 
society. One that’s inevitable for the future.

Using electric vehicles (EVs) needs more. So as it increases work needs to be done.
That’s why [recycling for batteries](https://greenlivingguy.com/2026/06/circular-ev-battery-recycling-for-a-cleaner-planet/)
is essential.

## For it is becoming an important area of research.

As [Tesla](https://www.tesla.com/support/sustainability-recycling) reports:

Unlike fossil fuels, which release harmful emissions into the atmosphere that are
not recovered for reuse. So materials in a Tesla lithium-ion battery are recoverable
and recyclable. Battery materials are refined and put into a cell. Those will still
remain in the cell at the end of their life. Especially when they can be recycled.
That’s to recover its valuable materials for reuse over and over again.

Extending the life of a battery pack is a superior option. Especially to recycling.
That’s for environmental reasons. Also and more importantly business reasons. For
those reasons it’s done before decommissioning. I mean a consumer battery pack and
sending it for recycling. Tesla does everything it can to extend the useful life
of each battery pack. Any battery that is no longer meeting a customer’s needs can
be serviced by Tesla. That’s at one of our service centers around the world. None
of their scrapped lithium-ion batteries go to landfilling. Then they are 100% are
recycled.

I mean one method that currently attracts a lot of interest.

### Especially is a combination of thermal pretreatment and hydrometallurgy.

It involves aqueous chemistry. That’s to recover the metals. Several companies are
developing systems I heard to help. Those that will be used during this combination.
However, the researchers at Chalmers University of Technology say there’s work. 
For these companies use widely differing temperatures. In addition, they have different
times in their processes.

Also and according to [WBUR](https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/01/25/lithium-ion-battery-recycling-electric-vehicles):

Now, a Massachusetts startup has a unique solution. One that gives the worn-out 
energy cells new life, making EVs more sustainable. Also and cheaper, too.

Ascend Elements claims it can turn spent lithium-ion batteries into ones. Ones that
are better than new. Also longer-lasting, faster-charging and less-polluting. The
[recycled energy cells](https://greenlivingguy.com/2023/04/solar-cell-new-method-recycling-cells/)
could also provide the U.S. with an added measure of energy independence.

![Recycling EV batteries ](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/
2022/02/myenergi-WkqHU1G2_sg-unsplash.jpg?resize=420%2C236&quality=52&ssl=1 "Recycling
EV batteries ")

### Driving Change

Lithium-ion batteries are in the vast majority of electric cars and trucks. [Lithium is what scientists call “energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/ai-vs-lithium-the-future-of-energy-storage/)
dense.  For that’s packing a powerful punch. Especially relative to its size and
weight. But the battery name is misleading.

“Ironically, lithium is not the most important material in a lithium-ion battery,”
says Jeffrey Spangenberger, director of Argonne National Laboratory’s [ReCell Center](https://recellcenter.org/).
One which works to advance battery-recycling technologies.

Nickel, graphite, manganese and cobalt. For these are also important. That’s Spangenberger
says. He means especially cobalt. For that’s the most expensive material in EV batteries.
It’s one reason the batteries are the costliest part of an electric vehicle.

## **30 minutes and room temperature can suffice for recycling**

A key finding of the new study was that the hydrometallurgical process. For if it
can be carried out at room temperature. This is something that has not been previously
tested before. It can yield major benefits. Especially in the form of reducing environmental
impacts. In addition, lower costs for recycling the batteries. The process can also
be carried out significantly quicker. I mean than previously thought.

## Temperatures are Essential

The researchers investigated how the different steps. All on thermal pretreatment
and hydrometallurgy. They are affected by each other. An important comparison was
made. For that’s between two different approaches.

That’s for thermal pre-treatment. For that’s incineration or pyrolysis. The latter
is without oxygen. Yet is is more environmentally friendly.

## **Continued optimization crucial for the field **

If the recycling of electric car batteries is to reach the volumes it needs help.
Especially required for the future. For the costs must be radically reduced. Improving
the processes is, therefore, a crucial challenge.

An example of this is visible in connection to a new trend. One that has spread 
among the producers. I mean of EV batteries. For that’s solid-state batteries. These
batteries contain significantly more different metals. Those which makes recycling
much harder.

As [Treehugger](https://www.treehugger.com/recycling-electric-car-batteries-an-overview-5188317)
reports:

## Reuse Before Recycle

[Batteries lose roughly 2.3% of their energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/07/battery-energy-storage-gms-sustainable-solution/)
capacity annually. So a 12-year-old battery might have 76% of its original storage
capacity.

[Energy storage](https://www.treehugger.com/how-does-solar-battery-storage-work-5185948),
itself a booming industry. For it can repurpose these batteries after the EV itself.
Especially has reached the end of its life. They can be used as energy storage devices
in [residences ](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/02/new-york-state-working-hard-to-catch-up-with-californias-energy-storage-requirements/)
as [utility-scale storage](https://www.treehugger.com/why-everyone-is-talking-about-energy-storage-4860546)
to provide resilience to the electricity grid, or even to power robots. Reuse can
[double the useful lifetime](https://cleantechnica.com/2020/12/23/we-need-to-recycle-lithium-ion-batteries-at-their-end-of-life-video/)
of the batteries, at which point, they can be recycled.

As [National Geographic](https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/electric-vehicles-take-off-recycling-ev-batteries)
reports: To reduce the need for new mining, experts say we’re going to have to get
a lot better. Especially at [recycling EV batteries](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/07/ev-battery-recycling-a-renewable-solution-hiding-in-plain-sight/)
when they die. While only a small number of EV batteries have aged off the streets
already. Yet [millions of tons ](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/24d5dfbb-a77a-4647-abcc-667867207f74/TheRoleofCriticalMineralsinCleanEnergyTransitions.pdf)
of batteries are expected to come offline. Then to be decommissioned. That’s over
the coming decades.** Those batteries could supply a significant fraction of the
EV industry’s future. I mean their mineral demand. However, better recycling methods
and government policies are needed. Especially to support them. For they are needed
to ensure that batteries don’t wind up in landfills instead.

### Biden Administration

As Energy Monitor reports:

That is why the Biden administration also announced a separate $60m program. All
for battery recycling in early May 2022. By reusing materials from end-of-life batteries.
It’s a secondary domestic supply chain. One independent of the mining supply chain
could be created.

According to US-based analysts, Allied Market Research, the global [EV](https://greenlivingguy.com/2020/05/what-makes-an-ev-friendly-community/)
battery recycling market was [valued at around $139m](https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/electric-vehicle-battery-recycling-market)
in 2017.  Now it is expected to grow to $2.27bn by 2025.

The need for independence and security of supply has become more urgent. Especially
since [Russia invaded Ukraine](https://www.energymonitor.ai/topic/ukraine).  So 
the first halts to gas deliveries to Poland and Bulgaria. Then most recently, Finland.
For they have had countries scrambling for alternatives. A month before announcing
the $3bn EV battery boost. That’s because Biden already invoked the Defense Production
Act. That’s to increase the mining of EV battery minerals. This gives the government
more access to funding. Especially to support mining. Also processing and recycling
of critical minerals.

[According to the US Geological Survey](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2022/mcs2022.pdf),
the country had a net import reliance of 100% for graphite. Also and manganese in
2021. That’s followed by 75% for cobalt. Also almost 50% for nickel and more than
25% for lithium.

## EV battery recycling for security of supply

Security of supply for critical minerals is not just a concern for the US. According
to the International Energy Agency (IEA), “clean energy technologies are becoming
the fastest-growing segment of demand” for critical minerals. In a world on track
to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement! So [the IEA estimates](https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions)
that the sector’s demand for copper and rare earth elements will rise. That’s by
more than 40% in the next two decades. Also more than 60% for nickel and cobalt.
Finally and almost 90% for lithium. Without a steady supply, the energy transition
is at risk of slowing down.

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
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