EV batteries must be carefully disposed of after use to prevent environmental damage. If the battery cells are treated correctly, “Battery Recycling” and “Battery Reusing” may be able to help with this issue. This creates a platform wherein automakers and electric vehicle producers can retrieve valuable minerals and additional materials using an efficient battery recycling procedure.
New Delhi: Although electric vehicles (EVs) are predicted to contribute to a “green future,” they come with a price tag. The hazardous vehicle waste that remains after an EV is usually fully used is represented by the cost in this instance. EV batteries must be carefully disposed of after use to prevent environmental damage.
If the battery cells are treated correctly, “Battery Recycling” and “Battery Reusing” may be a solution to this issue. This creates a platform whereby automakers and electric vehicle producers can recover valuable minerals and other materials using an efficient battery recycling procedure.
Battery production scraps are predicted to reach 800k tons by 2030, while end-of-life battery scrap is predicted to reach 1,100 tons annually by the same year, according to a McKinsey analysis.
The battery recycling procedure
Lithium-ion battery recycling is the process of reusing a lithium battery by following precise guidelines to recover valuable materials.
The projected lifespan of a lithium-ion battery used in electric vehicles (EVs) is between 10 and 15 years; however, this might vary depending on several factors, such as the battery’s quality, usage, and maintenance. With technology developing, there is hope that an EV battery’s lifespan may rise.
Lithium-ion batteries have the option of recycling and material extraction at the end of their useful lives. In India, businesses such as Companies such as Lohum, Tata Chemicals, Attero, Metastable, and a few others have made a name for themselves in the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
The lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) used in EVs are often accumulated first, then pre-processed and disassembled before being discharged. This is the standard procedure for recycling batteries. The following stage involves the mechanical/thermal generation of “Black Mass,” which is then sent to the relevant companies for recycling.
The term “black mass” describes a material that has a high concentration of nickel, cobalt, manganese, and lithium. These substances can be reused in batteries or put to entirely different uses.
Lithometallurgy and hydrometallurgy are the two main techniques used to recycle LiB.
Pyrometallurgy is the process of extracting minerals from ores by heating them to extremely high temperatures. Batteries include between 50 and 60 percent of minerals that are recovered, including nickel and cadmium, however, lithium and aluminum are left behind with a low rate of recovery.
Hydrometallurgy: Businesses that choose this technology extract black matter by a procedure known as “mechanical pre-treatment.” Leaching, which requires the use of reagents and solvents, is the following step.
Issues in recycling lithium-ion batteries
Insufficient standardization there is no standardization because OEMs have different requirements for battery power, format, size, and electrode chemistries, which adds to the complexity.
Strict regulations from the government: Currently, recycling and repairing used batteries is under the purview of the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. The ministry’s stricter regulations for land usage drive up the cost.
Safety: Removing, testing, and disassembling the waste batteries carries a significant danger to safety.
Lack of financial assistance: Under the PLI Scheme, a minimum percentage of minerals must be recovered from spent batteries; but, as of the time this article was published, no financial incentives have been offered.
There are several obstacles preventing the lithium-ion battery recycling industry from expanding. Rajat Verma states that “particularly in developing countries and regions, there is a dearth of infrastructure and facilities for the efficient and effective recycling of lithium-ion batteries.” The majority of lithium-ion batteries that were in use prior to Extended Producer Responsibility rules still wind up in landfills or incinerators, and the recycling rate for these batteries is still in the single digits.