Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling

Date: Jan 19, 2024

Have you noticed an increase in benefits of EV ownership. No matter if you choose a new EV for the environmental benefits or the advanced technology, your next electrified ride is sure to take your daily drives to new heights.

If you have been thinking about adopting the EV lifestyle, you may want to know a little more about what happens to old electric car batteries. During EV battery disposal, many of the components are separated and recycled. We explore the basics of electric car battery recycling in the guide below. 

What Happens to Old Electric Car Batteries? 

What happens to old electric car batteries when they are no longer useful for Coconut Creek driving? When it’s time for EV battery disposal, several different battery components can be recycled. Auto recyclers ship the batteries off to specialized firms to disassemble the batteries. After the battery has been taken apart, the cells and circuits are crushed to sort out and purify the metals.

Lauderdale MINI is dedicated to responsibly disposing of EV batteries and hybrid batteries, too. Most automakers have guidelines and collection programs regarding battery recycling. 

How EV Batteries are Recycled – The Basics of EV Battery Disposal

Even though there is a significant difference in size, EV batteries and hybrid batteries are recycled similarly. Here’s how electric car battery recycling works. 

• EV battery packs are shipped to a facility that is dedicated to recycling and disassembling the batteries. 
• Often, 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, creating a pure supply of materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and nickel. 

Repurposing EV Batteries 

Now that you know the basics of EV battery disposal, you may have questions about whether or not EV batteries can be repurposed. Yes, it is possible to repurpose EV batteries, but due to cost, this practice is not common. Because EVs are growing in popularity and with that comes an increase in demand for EV batteries, advancements in repurposing technology will also likely follow. 

When a traditional automotive battery reaches the end of its lifecycle, the liquid hydrocarbons can no longer provide energy. Many components found in EV batteries are reusable. An example of this is cobalt. EV batteries that are no longer in their prime can still offer valuable battery production resources. 

Drive an EV Today

After learning about electric car battery recycling and what happens to old electric car batteries, have you decided that EV ownership is the right choice for you? Visit our showroom in Fort Lauderdale today, and we can get you set up with a test drive. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us for details.