The rapid growth of the electric vehicle industry means that in the coming years, there will be millions of tonnes of batteries already suitable for use in cars. Experts call for urgent development of efficient recycling methods and warn of potential environmental risks
Electric cars do not emit pollutants while driving and are, therefore, promoted as more environmentally friendly than combustion vehicles taking into account the fight against climate change. However, there are potential problems with the used batteries, so the environmental benefits of switching to this type of vehicle have been called into question.
An electric car consists of mostly the same components as an internal combustion car. The main difference is in the batteries – they are much larger than the batteries of traditional gasoline and diesel cars. They are built from multiple cells, making them difficult to take apart. They also contain toxic substances and can explode if short-circuited or heated.
However, recycling is difficult and dangerous, and the cost of manufacturing components is often lower than using recycled materials. Battery cells are often flooded with strong adhesives and are very difficult to take apart.
Some companies are now undertaking the production of manually removable cells. According to “Science”, a Chinese automotive company (BYT) has just released such batteries, which do not require dissolving any kind of glue.