Drive along the roads of Portland and Tigard, and you are bound to see at least a handful of electric vehicles during your daily commute. Many drivers are choosing to adopt the EV lifestyle because of its environmental benefits and the ease of maintaining an EV. If you have been thinking about making an EV your own, you may still have concerns about what happens to old electric car batteries. In the guide below, our EV experts explore the process of EV battery disposal and electric car battery recycling.
What happens to old electric car batteries that can no longer operate at peak performance? Fortunately, many EV battery components can be recycled, so auto recyclers ship the batteries off to specialized firms that take the battery pack apart. Once the battery has been disassembled, the cells and circuits are crushed to separate and purify the metals.
Many dealerships, like BMW of Tigard, have a process in place for recycling hybrid batteries as well. Most automakers have a set of guidelines and collection programs for hybrid battery recycling.
EV Battery Disposal and Recycling
Despite the difference in size, the process of recycling EV batteries shares many similarities with the process of recycling a hybrid battery. We have provided a general overview of what happens during EV recycling below.
EV battery packs are sent to a facility that specializes in recycling and disassembling the batteries.
In most cases, the steel, copper, or aluminum scrap metal goes into the nationwide metals-recycling stream.
The battery cells are ground up and the stream is purified. This leads to a pure supply of materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and nickel.
EV Battery Recycling – Can EV Batteries Be Repurposed?
After becoming more familiar with EV battery disposal, you may be wondering whether EV batteries can be repurposed. EV batteries can be repurposed, but currently, the process is not cost-effective. With the growing popularity of EVs, there are plenty of opportunities for this technology to advance.
Did you know that liquid hydrocarbons can no longer provide energy after being used up, but that is not true for many components of an EV battery? One example is cobalt, which can be reused over and over. Depleted batteries are an excellent source of valuable resources.
Take an EV for a Test Drive Today
If you still have questions about what happens to old electric car batteries, do not hesitate to reach out for more information about electric car battery recycling. We’d be happy to answer them for you. We would also be happy to get you set up with a test drive in a new electric vehicle. Get in touch with us today, and learn more about EV reliability.
