With automakers and governments committing to increasing the number of electric vehicles, 145 million electric vehicles are expected to be on the road by 2030. While electric vehicles can play an important role in reducing emissions, they also bring with them a potential environmental time bomb – their batteries. It is estimated that more than 12 million tons of lithium batteries will be retired between now and 2030. Not only do these batteries use vast amounts of raw materials, including lithium, nickel and cobalt, but mining can impact the climate, environment and human rights. Batteries also end up as mountains of electronic waste at the end of their life. As the auto industry begins to transform, now is the time to plan for the end of battery life, reduce reliance on mining and keep materials in circulation, experts say. Hundreds of millions of dollars in funding are pouring into recycling-related startups and research centers to figure out how to disassemble used batteries and extract valuable metals at scale. James Pennington, head of the World Economic Forum's circular economy project, said that if we want to do more with limited materials, recycling should not be the first solution. "The first and best way is to extend the use time." In December last year, the EU proposed comprehensive changes to its battery regulations, most of which target lithium batteries, including battery recycling rates of 70%, cobalt, copper, lead and nickel recycling rates of 95%, lithium recycling rates of 70%, and new batteries in 2030 Mandatory minimum levels of recycled content in batteries to ensure a market for recyclers and insulate them from commodity price fluctuations or changes in battery chemistry
