Roughly 60 million people around the world are driving electric cars today, and that number is quickly on the rise.
What many don’t realize is that the batteries that power those vehicles are only designed to last about 10 years or 100,000 miles — and that means millions will soon reach the end of their useful life.
What happens to those batteries after that? And what happens to billions of other rechargeable batteries in electric trucks, e-bikes, and electric golf carts — not to mention countless handheld devices?
As we adopt new technologies to meet climate goals, there are critical questions we need to be asking.
Rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries power our technology and have huge potential to help cut down CO2 emissions, but approaches to manage their downsides and dangers have not kept pace with their rapid growth. Many of the 5,000 or so fires reported annually at recycling facilities are linked to these batteries, which can go into thermal runaway — where they can catch fire or even explode — when improperly disposed. Even if they don’t catch fire, the chemical elements they contain can leach into groundwater or create toxic fumes if the batteries are ruptured in landfills. The future of clean energy depends on minimizing those risks and achieving greater circularity, so batteries don’t end up in landfills but are instead safely reused. So how can manufacturers design batteries in a way that makes them both safe and sustainable — allowing them to be safely repaired, recycled, repurposed, and remanufactured rather than simply thrown out?
Recycling-Friendly Design
Rechargeable, lithium-ion batteries power our technology and have huge potential to help cut down CO2 emissions, but approaches to manage their downsides and dangers have not kept pace with their rapid growth. Many of the 5,000 or so fires reported annually at recycling facilities are linked to these batteries, which can go into thermal runaway — where they can catch fire or even explode — when improperly disposed. Even if they don’t catch fire, the chemical elements they contain can leach into groundwater or create toxic fumes if the batteries are ruptured in landfills. The future of clean energy depends on minimizing those risks and achieving greater circularity, so batteries don’t end up in landfills but are instead safely reused. So how can manufacturers design batteries in a way that makes them both safe and sustainable — allowing them to be safely repaired, recycled, repurposed, and remanufactured rather than simply thrown out?
Take-Back Programs
Through take-back programs, manufacturers can help make sure these batteries get to professional recycling and remanufacturing facilities at the end of their service life. Manufacturers of cell phones and other electronics have already built these programs into their processes, and they can be scaled up to accommodate larger batteries for EVs and energy storage systems.
Digital Product Passports
Manufacturers can also mark batteries with QR codes that carry information on the battery type, battery chemistry, and tools or steps required for disassembly. Making this info readily available would help certified battery remanufacturing professionals know what they’re dealing with. Without this info, recycling some batteries can be difficult, dangerous, or impossible.
How Standards Are Leading the Charge
A safe battery is a sustainable battery, and with safety standards like UL 3601 for battery circularity, manufacturers have the framework to achieve these goals and design, build, recycle, and remanufacture batteries that are safer and more sustainable. While government agencies and manufacturers can help pave the road for progress, the key to success is a cultural shift that rewards recycling, repurposing, and remanufacturing over disposability. Safety standards can serve as valuable tools in these efforts.
