Profitable recycling of low-cobalt EV batteries will depend on direct recycling or other new process developments. Design for recycling (such as binderless electrodes) could also reduce recycling costs. Without advances, battery recycling might need to rely on government subsidies or regulations to prevent disposal of valuable and scarce materials.
What happens if battery recycling is unprofitable?
If recycling remains unprofitable, battery waste mountains could build up, which, if uncontrolled, bear a significant environmental and safety risk, as toxic chemicals could leak into the environment and landfill fires might occur (Winslow et al., 2018). Moreover, valuable materials that could be recovered and reused would simply be wasted.
Can a holistic techno-economic model improve battery recycling cost optimization?
We present a comprehensive, holistic techno-economic model as a framework to directly compare recycling locations and processes, providing a key tool for recycling cost optimization in an international battery recycling economy.
Should EV batteries be recycled?
Given the currently rather low number of End-of-Life (EoL) EV LIBs, recycling costs are still high and profits low, discouraging EV and battery manufacturers from pursuing the recycling of retired batteries effectively (Heelan et al., 2016; Rohr et al., 2017).
Comparing commercial battery packs, the Tesla Model S emerges as the most profitable, having low disassembly costs and high revenues for its cobalt. In-country recycling is suggested, to lower emissions and transportation costs and secure the materials supply chain. Our model thus enables identification of strategies for recycling profitability.
For better comparability, battery fees to the recycler for taking the batteries are not taken into account, as they might differ between countries.
Is lithium-ion battery recycling a viable option for electric vehicles?
Volume 24, Issue 7, 23 July 2021, 102787 Economically viable electric vehicle lithium-ion battery recycling is increasingly needed; however routes to profitability are still unclear.