EV Battery Recycling

Date: Jan 18, 2024

The popularity of electric cars continues to grow in Maple Shade and beyond, and it’s easy to see why an EV is such a smart investment. EVs are easier to maintain, they deliver near-instantaneous torque, and they help to lower your carbon footprint. EV batteries are much larger than traditional vehicle batteries, so you may be wondering what happens to old electric car batteries that reach the end of their lifecycle. 

In the guide below, we explore the process of electric car battery recycling and EV battery disposal. 

What Happens to Old Electric Car Batteries? 

What happens to old electric car batteries? Many components of the batteries in electric cars can be recycled. When an EV battery wears down, auto recyclers ship it to a specialized firm to take it apart. After the battery has been disassembled, the cells and circuits are crushed to sort out and purify the metals.

At Holman Cadillac, we also recycle hybrid batteries responsibly. Most automakers have developed guidelines and collection programs to handle hybrid battery recycling properly. 

EV Battery Disposal Basics: How to Recycle EV Batteries 

Even though the battery in an EV is a lot larger than the battery in most hybrid vehicles, there are many similar steps when it comes to recycling the two. Here is a general overview of what goes on during electric car battery recycling. 

• EV battery packs are sent off to a facility that specializes in recycling and disassembling the batteries. 
• In most cases, 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. This leads to a pure supply of materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and nickel. 

Is it Possible to Repurpose EV Batteries? 

Now that you have a better understanding of EV battery disposal and electric car battery recycling, you may have questions about repurposing EV batteries. Yes, EV batteries can be repurposed. However, it does not happen often, mainly because it is not currently cost-effective. As the demand for EV batteries rises, there will likely be more opportunities to develop a more efficient repurposing process. 

In standard automotive batteries, the liquid hydrocarbons can no longer provide energy when a battery reaches the end of its lifecycle. Many EV battery components are infinitely reusable. Cobalt, for example, can be reused over and over, so depleted EV batteries can provide the necessary resources for new battery production. 

Make an EV Your Own Today

After learning about what happens to old electric car batteries during electric car battery recycling, are you now ready to see how an EV can improve your Pennsauken drives? Visit Holman Cadillac today, and we can get you set up with a test drive. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions about EV ownership.