With automakers and governments pledging to increase the number of electric vehicles, an estimated 145 million are expected to be on the road by 2030. While electric vehicles can play a significant role in reducing emissions, they also come with a potential environmental time bomb: batteries. It's 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 them can impact the climate, the environment, and human rights. At the end of their life, batteries also contribute to mountains of electronic waste. Experts say that as the auto industry begins its transformation, it's time to plan for the end of life of batteries, reduce reliance on mining, and keep materials in a circular flow. A Second Spring for Electric Vehicle Batteries Hundreds of millions of dollars are being poured into recycling startups and research centers to figure out how to disassemble spent batteries and extract valuable metals on a large scale. James Pennington, director of the Circular Economy Initiative at the World Economic Forum, said that if we want to do more with finite materials, recycling shouldn't be the first solution; \"the first and best approach is to extend their lifespan.\" Last December, the European Union proposed a comprehensive overhaul of its battery regulations, most of which focused on lithium batteries. These included a 70% recycling rate for batteries, 95% for cobalt, copper, lead, and nickel, and 70% for lithium. The regulations also mandated minimum levels of recycled content in new batteries by 2030 to ensure a market for recyclers and insulate them from commodity price fluctuations or changes in battery chemistry. Both the EU and the public-private Global Battery Alliance (GBA) are working on a \"digital passport\" for batteries\u2014an electronic record containing information about their entire lifecycle. \"We're considering using QR codes or wireless identification detection devices,\" said Torsten Freund, head of the GBA's battery passport project. This would report the battery's health and remaining capacity, allowing automakers to use it at reuse or recycling facilities. This information on the materials could help recyclers understand the myriad chemistries of lithium batteries. Once recycling becomes more widespread, passports could also show the recycled content of new batteries. Richter said it's also worth noting that sustainable transportation isn't limited to electric vehicles; walking, cycling, or taking public transportation shouldn't be ignored. \"The point is, we can have sustainable products within a non-sustainable system.\" Source: Environmental Information Center (https:\/\/e-info.org.tw\/node\/232064)<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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