Electric car batteries: disposal and recycling
Most electric cars are still relatively new and there aren't a lot of them yet. But even these cars are getting older and are therefore prone to repairs. And they are involved in accidents. In the future, car repair shops and scrap yards are therefore likely to be asking more and more questions such as:
- How can I dispose of ev batteries?
- What are the dangers of storing and disposing of electric car batteries?
- How much does it cost to dispose of lithium-ion batteries from electric cars?
As a specialist in the safe storage and transport of lithium-ion batteries, we endeavour to answer these questions.
How are electric car batteries recycled?
The good news first: many batteries that no longer have enough capacity for an electric car do not need to be recycled. Instead, the battery cells are reused in stationary electricity storage systems. But even end-of-life batteries are not simply landfilled or incinerated, but recycled. The most important methods for ev battery recycling are
- Melting down. This involves utilising the different melting points of the metals contained and liquefying them one after the other.
- Shredding and mechanical or chemical separation: This process has the advantage that not only metals can be recycled, but also electrolytes and plastic, for example.
Both processes can only be offered by highly specialised companies, as the release of toxic substances must be prevented. Transport is also handled by specialised companies with the relevant hazardous goods expertise.
What are the dangers of disposing of electric car batteries?
On the one hand, the high-voltage systems of electric vehicles pose a direct risk of electric shock to vehicle mechanics. Special training and protective equipment are required to minimise this risk.
On the other hand, the lithium-ion batteries in electric cars can also catch fire or even explode. Damaged batteries, for example after an accident, are particularly at risk. Mechanical damage can cause a short circuit in an electric car battery. The resulting heat can then lead to a self-reinforcing chemical process known as ‘thermal runaway’. As the materials used in the ev battery release oxygen themselves, such fires can hardly be extinguished.
In addition to the installation of smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, the correct handling of the e-car batteries to be disposed of can also reduce the risk. For example, it is advisable to store defective electric cars outside rather than in the garage. Damaged electric car batteries must also no longer be charged.
Even a removed electric car battery still poses a risk. Damaged lithium-ion batteries in particular are considered so dangerous that they must not be transported without massive safety precautions. Accordingly, they should not simply be stored openly in the workshop, but should be kept in a fireproof safety container. There are also suitable containers for disposing of electric car batteries that weigh several hundred kilos. The RETRON 4000 fireproof safety container, for example, is specially designed for the storage and transport of lithium-ion batteries and has a capacity of almost 4 cubic metres.
Electric car battery disposal: costs
The cost of disposing of electric car batteries depends on the model, number and condition of the lithium-ion batteries, among other things. Different vehicles also use different battery sizes and different materials. Workshops that dispose of a large number of ev batteries sometimes receive volume discounts. And for damaged electric car batteries, even transporting them to the disposal company is time-consuming and therefore expensive. If you are a garage or workshop looking to dispose of electric car batteries, you are welcome to contact us for a no-obligation quote.
