Colorful silhouttes of different Electric Car or automobile types

1137004735

Colorful silhouttes of different Electric Car or automobile types

Photo by: smartboy10

smartboy10

Recycled Lithium-Ion Batteries are Outlasting Brand New Ones

Car batteries made with recycled materials are outlasting their un-recycled counterparts– boosting auto manufacturers’ confidence in reusable parts.

December 13, 2021

The rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery market is worth more than $50 billion. Used in a wide range of electronic devices from smartphones to electric vehicles, the demand continues to increase day by day.

Li-ion batteries are made of four main components: cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator. Each of these components is essential to the battery’s functionality. The cathode’s active material type is what determines the capacity and voltage of a battery.

A study found that lithium-ion batteries made with recycled cathodes outperformed batteries with cathodes made from “pristine materials.” The batteries made with recycled materials lasted for thousands of additional charging cycles more than their counterparts.

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with charger

1045909736

Lithium-ion batteries are used in everything from smartphones to electric cars.

Photo by: danielvfung

danielvfung

Lithium-ion batteries are used in everything from smartphones to electric cars.

“Based on our study, recycled materials can perform as well as, or even better than, virgin materials,” said Yan Wang, a materials scientist with Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

As demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to grow, so does the demand for its materials. This high demand has led companies to go to extremes, like amping up deep-sea mining, to gain access to the resources used in Li-ion batteries. Increasing recycling efforts could help avert a mineral shortage.

But until now, the prospect of using recycled materials in Li-ion batteries had some manufactures worrying it could impact performance. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are not widely recycled. (In contrast, 97% of lead-acid batteries are recycled.)

Electric cars charging at a charging station. 3d rendering.

1323244949

The growing market for EVs is pushing Li-ion batteries to new heights.

Photo by: Дмитрий Ларичев

Дмитрий Ларичев

The growing market for EVs is pushing Li-ion batteries to new heights.

Aware of dwindling resources and environmental impact, Wang and his team set out to find a way to make recycling Lithium-ion batteries economically justifiable. By extracting the electrodes from shredded spent batteries, and dissolving the metals in an acidic solution, the scientists were able to recover more than 90% of the key metals– nickel, manganese, and cobalt– from the old battery. The recovered metals became the basis of the new recycled battery’s cathode’s active material.

In tests between Wang’s team’s recycled batteries and brand new commercial batteries of the same composition, the recycled batteries outperformed in their ability to maintain capacity. Batteries with new cathodes take a respectable 7,600 cycles to lose 30% of their initial capacity, while batteries with recycled cathodes lasted, almost 50% longer, for 11,600 cycles. That improved capacity performance could translate to years of better battery performance, even after repeated use and recharging.

Next Up

How Lithium Batteries Will Improve EV Range and Rapid Charging

Electric vehicles (EVs) are due for huge upgrades in driving range and charging times as new battery technologies are introduced.

California Proposes Ban on New Gas-Fueled Cars by 2035

If enacted, California’s mandate would be the first to prohibit new gasoline or diesel cars in the next decade.

Jessi Combs, Fastest Woman on Four Wheels, Dies in Land-Speed Record Crash

Former Discovery star Jessi Combs was killed during an attempt to beat her land-speed record.

Tune-Up Your Engines, American Chopper Returns August 4th

Paul Teutul Sr. and Paul Teutul Jr. are back to conquer unfinished business in this brand-new 2-hour AMERICAN CHOPPER special, airing Tuesday, August 4 at 9 9P ET/PT on Discovery.

Jesse James is Back with a New Monster Garage on discovery+

Jesse James pushes custom builds to the limit in MONSTER GARAGE, premiering January 4 on discovery+.

Flame Out: UK Brings Forward Combustion Engine Car Ban to 2030

Plans to tackle transport greenhouse gas emissions need ambitious targets to impact Earth’s rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).

Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation

Transport is one industry that needs to rapidly cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to tackle climate change.

Jesse James Returns to Discovery in an All New Season of Monster Garage

Jesse James is back to create some of most mind-blowing vehicles to ever drive across television screens!

Hydrogen Power: Moving the World into Clean Energy

Hydrogen gas is the most abundant element in the universe. It is an odorless, non-toxic, non-corrosive gas that burns easily in air to produce a large amount of heat, zero greenhouse gases, and water pure enough to drink as a by-product.

Car Industry Takes a Hit Due to Chip Shortage

Car manufacturers are facing an unpredictable future as a global shortage of computer chips, semiconductors, and rare earth metals affects traditional and electric vehicles. Large automotive factories have been forced to cut production at a time when a transition to electric models is expected to help fight climate change.