Technology start-ups are racing to make recycling electric-vehicle batteries cleaner and more economical, with investors pouring billions of dollars into recycling facilities globally to prepare for a surge in disposed packs and for regulations mandating minimum recycled content in new EV batteries.
With the first batch of electric cars nearing the end of their roughly 10-year lifespan, traditional recycling methods for lithium-ion batteries that power EVs are highly energy-intensive and involve burning used batteries at more than 1,400C.
A clutch of start-ups, including Hong Kong’s GRST and Oregon-based OnTo Technology, as well as larger companies such as German chemicals giant BASF, are working on a water-based technology seen as a commercially viable and environmentally friendly alternative.