Part 3/10:
As EVs become more common, the volume of spent batteries that require proper disposal or recycling will increase substantially. Batteries embedded under the chassis or underneath the vehicle contain kilograms of materials, raising concerns about environmental contamination and waste management.
The critical challenge lies in developing efficient, environmentally friendly methods to recycle or repurpose these batteries. Currently, only about 5% of lithium-ion batteries are recycled globally—a minuscule fraction that points to a significant opportunity for improvement. Present recycling techniques such as melting (pyrometallurgy) are energy-intensive and contribute substantially to carbon emissions.