An EV battery's life is far from over once it leaves a car. When an owner is done with the vehicle, the battery may have reduced capacity, a fault, or crash damage. Even if the owner replaces it, specialists known as EV battery diagnosticians or technicians will inspect, test and decide what comes next in its lifecycle.
Sometimes repair is possible. An EV battery pack contains several cells grouped in modules, so a technician may be able to replace a single module or component rather than sending the whole pack to recycling or repurposing. A safe, reliable used battery can be reused in a compatible vehicle, though some packs are very difficult to repair, especially after a severe accident that results in a total loss. The battery's condition determines whether it becomes stationary energy storage or goes to a recycler.
Just because a battery no longer delivers the range an owner wants doesn't mean it's useless. Retired EV batteries can retain as much as 70 to 80 percent of their original capacity, assuming they aren't damaged. One popular option is stationary energy storage, where the battery provides backup power for a building or helps balance electricity supply and demand on the grid. California, for example, is using Nissan Leaf and Honda batteries to store solar energy. Repurposing is costly, however, so a viable battery may still be recycled if the cost outweighs the return.
If repair or repurposing isn't possible, the pack is dismantled and prepared for safe processing. Steel, aluminum and copper are stripped out and recovered. Cells are shredded and separated into a mixture called "black mass," which contains electrode materials that undergo further processing to recover valuable ingredients. Most of the recovered material returns to manufacturing. Recycling requires significant energy and results in some losses, but it reduces demand for mined resources and lowers environmental impact.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing