Electric vehicle batteries often retain 70% to 80% of their capacity even after they no longer meet the requirements for automotive use.
We look at the engineering and safety considerations involved in evaluating these batteries for secondary applications, such as grid energy storage and building power, versus the decision-making process for recycling.
Discover how experts test and integrate these units for new systems.
Depending on its design, only a section or component may need to be replaced, not the entire battery. If it is safe and functioning reliably, it may be able to be reused in a compatible vehicle. However, some batteries are difficult to repair, especially after a serious accident that completely destroys the car.
A second use outside the car
A battery that no longer provides the range the driver needs may still store enough energy. If it is not damaged, it can retain 70% to 80% of its original capacity.
It can, for example, store energy for backup power to a building or help balance supply and demand on the electricity grid. In California, Nissan Leaf and Honda batteries are used to store solar energy.
To be used in this way, the battery must be properly tested and equipped with the necessary safety systems. The process can be expensive. If the cost outweighs the benefit, the battery can be recycled instead of being used again.
When it cannot be repaired or reused
If repair or reuse is not appropriate, the battery is prepared for safe processing and dismantled. Materials such as steel, aluminum and copper are recovered from it. The parts containing materials from the battery's electrical elements are shredded and separated so that they can be further processed and more materials can be recovered.
The chemical composition of the battery determines the next steps. Processing may involve heat or chemical solutions. The amounts recovered vary from battery to battery, but most materials are returned to production.
Recycling requires energy and costs money, and some materials are lost in the process. However, it reduces the need to mine new materials and the environmental impact.
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