What Happens to End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries?
Electric cars stand out in the vehicle market with their environmental friendliness. However, the batteries used in electric vehicles, which are considered environmentally friendly because they do not use fossil fuels, also have a lifespan. So, what happens to batteries that have reached their end of use? Let’s examine the recycling journey of electric vehicle batteries together!
Electric vehicles (EV) are one of the promising technologies for a sustainable and environmentally friendly future. In addition to providing high energy efficiency, electric vehicles are seen as the technology of the future with their zero-emission operating principle and use of renewable energy sources. However, as with every technology,some questions may arise regarding EVs and end-of-life electric vehicle parts . One of the most important questions is about batteries that have completed their useful life.
Although electric vehicle batteries are designed to be rechargeable, they expire after a certain period of time. In this case, the vehicle battery needs to be changed. However, the fate of batteries that have completed their useful life worries environmentalists. So, how do you think about recycling electric vehicle batteries, which contain many chemicals that may be harmful to the environment? Read on for the answers!
1. What Happens If an Electric Car Battery Runs Out?
The first thing you need to know about electric vehicles is that they run on electric power. For this reason, electric vehicles have a battery instead of the tank used to store fuel in conventional vehicles. The battery, also called battery, can run out after a certain amount of use. You can compare this situation to running out of gas in traditional vehicles. In such a case, you can charge your vehicle and continue on your way. Charging in electric vehicles is usually done through stations specially developed for this process.
The time it takes to fully charge the vehicle may vary depending on the model and the design of the charging unit. However, these rechargeable batteries also have a lifespan. After a certain period of use, there is a decrease in the performance of the battery. In this case, the battery needs to be replaced completely. Electric vehicle battery life is known to be on average eight to 20 years. However, this period may vary depending on the frequency of use of the vehicle.
2. What Happens If an Electric Vehicle Battery is Released to Nature?
Electric vehicle batteries can cause serious environmental problems when released into nature. This situation constitutes the main issue that worries environmentalists. Metals such as lead, lithium and cobalt contained in electric vehicle batteries can cause soil, water and air pollution. Failure to recycle these toxic wastes, which pose a danger to both the environment and human health, can cause great harm to the environment.
In addition, disposing of precious metals in batteries causes waste of resources and missed recycling opportunities. Therefore, it is of great importance to recycle electric vehicle batteries correctly and include them in waste management processes.
3. Where is Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Done?
Recycling electric vehicle batteries is a business line in itself. There are special facilities that do this job. In these facilities, batteries are effectively separated, harmful components are removed and recyclable materials are recycled. Battery recycling facilities are generally operated by electric vehicle manufacturers, battery manufacturers or recycling companies.
It is thought that with the widespread use of electric vehicles and developments in electric vehicle battery conversion in the future, the number of recycling facilities operating in this field will increase.
4. How to Recycle Electric Vehicle Battery?
Battery recycling in electric vehicles consists of various complex steps that follow each other. These steps are summarized as follows:
- First of all, end-of-life vehicle batteries are separated and their recyclable parts are removed.
- Then, the harmful parts of the battery that cannot be recycled are separated with special processes and rendered harmless. Thus, these chemicals do not cause any environmental damage by mixing with air, water and soil.
- Afterwards, these separated parts are used for the production of new batteries.
5. In Which Areas Are Recycled Electric Vehicle Batteries Used?
Recycled electric vehicle batteries can be used in many different areas. However, recycled batteries are primarily used in energy storage systems. Recycled batteries can be used in energy backup systems in homes, workplaces or electrical networks. In addition, remanufactured batteries can also be used in the construction of industrial equipment, solar panels and energy storage projects.