By Lauren Fix, The Car Coach
More than six million electric vehicle (EV) battery packs will end up as scrap between now and 2030, and the recycling and reuse industries are working hard to find a solution. Some researchers project that recycling alone will be an over a $12 billion industry by 2025.
Every manufacturer building electric cars uses lithium batteries. They are the most advanced and hold the longest charge but there is a hidden ticking time bomb most people are missing that will impact our environment.
The US government wants to make America a key player in the EV battery industry with a $3.1 billion spending package for automobile production to transition away from fossil fuels.
Much of this green energy relies on the Nevada high desert facility called Thacker Pass. It is the key to increased domestic lithium production and more EV batteries. Thacker Pass is the largest hard rock lithium reserve in the United States.
Currently, China dominates the world’s EV battery production, with more than 80 percent of all units developed there. The current administration has its sights on the top spot for EV battery production, however, insiders are pointing out industry traps no one is talking about.
Due to the potentially dangerous chemistry of lithium-ion EV units, concrete solutions are needed before an avalanche of dead battery packs ends up sitting around and waiting for recycling like ticking time bombs. Those working on the sales end of the EV revolution tend to avoid or offer vague generalities when asked about what will happen to all of the old batteries.
The standard reply is lumped into the very broad category of recycling or second life applications without offering any planning details. Second life applications are an option for EV batteries that no longer work for cars, but are suitable for alternative uses like energy storage. This is a great start but the ultimate question lingers: How can America effectively deal with millions of completely spent, defective, or recalled EV units?
For people who specialize in hazardous waste, handling lithium batteries is a serious subject, according to Scott Thibodeau at Veolia North America, the second largest hazmat removal service in the United States. He explained the chemistry of lithium-ion batteries is problematic since they can’t be dumped or recycled as easily as some other materials. This requires particular processes within the evolving EV industry to responsibly strip, package, and dispose of old units.
Another factor is that EV batteries pose a significant fire hazard. Putting out a traditional fire is done by using water or chemicals to cut off the supply of oxygen. However, lithium is unique in that it doesn’t require oxygen to burn. Once ignited, it creates what Thibodeau called a “thermal runaway,” which is incredibly challenging to control. “Once the battery goes into that state, stopping it is next to impossible.” Thibodeau says that while there’s no easy way to put out a lithium battery fire, having proper handling and storage, is a huge step in the right direction.
Recycling EV batteries poses another significant hurdle. That’s due to complications including expense, existing capacity to handle demand, and the simple fact these batteries aren’t easy to recycle.
Currently, less than five percent of lithium batteries that reach the end of their lifespan are recycled. It’s not possible to recycle lithium-ion batteries until they reach the end of their lifespan.
Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act wants the US to increase EV lithium battery production. There’s will be a real supply crunch to get the materials needed because there is not enough resources in the world to turn that much lithium production by 2035. In addition, the EPA’s slow permitting process has stalled approvals for new production sites. Meanwhile, China has continued to dominate the industry, refining more than half of all lithium supply while Australia and Chile remain the largest producers in the world.
The US is in a tough position to produce more EVs batteries and has no way to recycle all of them. How does any of this help the environment or consumers?
There is so much more to discuss on this, put your comments below and let’s start the conversation.
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Lauren Fix, The Car Coach®, is a nationally recognized automotive expert, analyst, author, and television host. A trusted car expert, Lauren provides an insider’s perspective on a wide range of automotive topics and aspects, energy, industry, consumer news, and safety issues.
Lauren is the CEO of Automotive Aspects and the Editor-in-Chief of Car Coach Reports, a global automotive news outlet. She is an automotive contributor to national and local television news shows, including Fox News, Fox Business, CNN International, The Weather Channel, Inside Edition, Local Now News, Community Digital News, and more. Lauren also co-hosts a regular show on ABC.com with Paul Brian called “His Turn – Her Turn” and hosts regular radio segments on USA Radio – DayBreak.
Lauren is honored to be inducted into the Women’s Transportation Hall of Fame and a Board Member of the Buffalo Motorcar Museum and Juror / President for the North American Car, Utility & Truck of the Year Awards.
Check her out on Twitter and Instagram @LaurenFix.
