Can lithium-ion batteries be recycled?

The goal is to recycle as near to 100% of the material in lithium-ion electric car batteries. Worksheet, for age range 14–16 This activity has two parts. The first looks at some of the chemistry of batteries. The second part links to the article. It considers the problems with mining lithium and with recycling batteries.

Are lithium-ion batteries a waste?

Soon there will be many millions of vehicle lithium-ion batteries reaching the end of their lives annually. ‘That’s an awful lot of waste,’ he says. Estimates vary but less than 5% of spent lithium-ion batteries are currently recycled. Many end up in landfill or fester, long forgotten, in bottom drawers.

Can old batteries be recycled?

Recent breakthroughs in recycling, together with a spate of technological improvements, mean that within a decade or so most of the global demand for raw materials to build new batteries could be met by recycling old ones. Lithium, manganese and cobalt are widely used to make electrodes called cathodes, the most expensive part of a Li-ion battery.

Could old batteries be recycled by 2040?

By 2040, according to P w C, a professional-services firm, up to 60% of the materials used to make batteries in Europe could come from recycling old ones, helped along by innovations in recovery processes. Other analysts take a similar view.

Should lithium-ion batteries be standardised?

Paul believes that, eventually, regulations may be brought in to standardise lithium-ion battery designs to enable easier recycling. There is a precedent here, he explains, as the recyclability of 12V car starter lead-acid battery designs was legislated for. Today ‘lead acid batteries are one of the best examples of a circular economy,’ he adds.

Are batteries destined for recycling?

For batteries destined for recycling, the dream is to be able to slice cells open and reuse or remanufacture every component of the battery.