With the democratization of Russia electric car, legitimate questions arise. Problem used batteries gain full meaning, for example, when you know how difficult it is to recycle them! We analyze this topic.

How long do electric car batteries work?

there time of life batteries for electric cars depends on several factors. This includes the amount charging cyclesTHE type of refueling (Wallbox or fast charging station), c driving habits other external factors. Therefore, all these parameters affect its aging to a greater or lesser extent. In general, the approximate service life is given between 8 and 10 years. After this time, the battery is not completely “dead”, but its capacity is greatly reduced. Then the autonomy of the electric car decreases.

What is the second life for electric car batteries?

If electric vehicle batteries are no longer needed in the electric vehicle due to loss of capacity, they can be reused. IADACa German association specializing in cars indicates that they can, for example, be used asauxiliary battery of electricity for private households. On the other hand, they were supposed to retain 70 to 80% of their original power. With this use, old batteries can serve for another ten years!

The main problem with electric cars (as well as segways, scooters and even vae) is end of life and battery recycling.

What is the service life of an electric car compared to a thermal car? (honest question, I don’t know the answer)

— Anne Caillou 🚲 (@AnneCaillouu) March 28, 2019

What do automakers think?

According to the manufacturers, it is almosta million batteries used, which will need to be recycled or destroyed by 2030. Because yes, at the moment the recycling capacity does not allow recycling so many batteries. There is still no suitable battery recycling process suitable for mass production of electric vehicles.

Nevertheless, some manufacturers are now starting to prepare for it. I love mercedes for example, who will to open a huge battery recycling plant this year. According to the star brand, this complex will allow recycling of 96% of the components of current batteries. Volkswagen is also planning a similar plant.

Current batteries are not intended for recycling

At the moment, one of the main problems that arise is related to the very nature of batteries. According to the physicist Kai Peter Birke, which is transmitted by our colleagues fromAutoZeitung“…batteries are far from being recyclable“. The latter explains this by the fact that due to the soldered connections of the cells, it is difficult to disassemble the batteries. Finally, cell structure varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, preventing standardization of a large-scale recycling process.