Against the backdrop of the electric vehicle (EV) revolution, a global race is underway to secure the minerals required to produce masses of lithium-ion batteries. But next year, we will see that there is an alternative to new-battery production – a closed-loop battery industry, in which what goes in one end is ultimately returned, recycled and recirculated back into manufacturing. Done correctly, this could end the race for new minerals altogether.
In 2022, my team will produce the world’s first lithium-ion battery that features 100 per cent recycled active material. With recycling and production on the same site, they will provide proof that metals recovered from battery waste can serve as direct and complete substitutes for those mined around the world for battery production today.
To understand why this matters, consider two figures. First, in 2022, some 1.6 million EVs will enter the European market. Second, an average vehicle’s battery requires about 80kg of nickel, manganese, cobalt and lithium. That’s 80kg of raw, virgin materials for each vehicle. In the future, these will be replaced with metals sourced through recycling.
This first recycled battery will contribute to building a net-zero future. By combining reuse with clean energy for its manufacturing, it will enable us to reduce the carbon footprint of batteries by some 80 per cent.
It’s a widespread misconception that batteries cannot be recycled. But what others call battery waste (production scrap and...
Read Full Story: https://www.wired.co.uk/article/electric-vehicle-recycled-batteries
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