The Need for Recycling Lithium-ion Batteries

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India is going the EV way. Going by the rise in sales of two-wheelers and three-wheelers, a significant proportion of vehicles on the roads will have lithium-ion batteries.

Climate enthusiasts advocating a cleaner atmosphere will be happy. However, there’s a new problem.

Lithium-ion battery cells have a lifespan of five years. They last about 2,000 charging cycles. When batteries reach the end of their lifespan what can be done? An increase in electro-mobility and grid-scale energy storage applications calls for the economic recycling of batteries.

Globally, car manufacturers are preparing to scale down internal combustion engine cars. According to research by Bloomberg, by around 2040, nearly two-thirds of the global passenger car sales will be electric.

EVs are gaining popularity and there’s no denying this fact. On several fronts, this is happening. Automakers and governments around the world are pushing for electrification in form of subsidies and policy measures. Discontinuation of fuel vehicles is the goal.

The trend is widely apparent as nations in Asia, Europe, and America are gasping for cleaner air. Electrification of transport is seen as one of the means to achieve this. Automakers are responding in kind by switching to the manufacturing of EVs.

Today, the battery is one prime constituent in the manufacturing of EVs. Battery manufacturing is picking up steam. Some years ago, there were very few factories that produced lithium-ion batteries. Now there are many, some operational and some in the pipeline.

Apart from companies that are already working in the battery manufacturing space, several start-ups are building new battery capacities and expansions. China is a world leader in battery cell capacity, and we are dependent on it.

Growth in scale and size of the battery industry is leading to a steep decline in the prices of battery cells. Larger factories with robust manufacturing processes and changing consumer perceptions regarding battery cells are impacting raw material costs.

India is planning gigawatt-scale manufacturing facilities to make its mark in the battery manufacturing space. The country by securing robust supply chains and recycling capabilities may emerge as an exporter of lithium-ion batteries.

One big challenge confronting India in this journey is the dearth of raw materials that can meet domestic demand. Additionally, there is great difficulty in mining the raw materials needed for making batteries. Furthermore, processing the minerals leave behind hazardous waste.

It is crucial to find a means for the healthy recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Importantly this should be quicker and more affordable so that EVs can be considered a safe bet in sustainable development.