Lithium-ion batteries, that are utilized in EVs, are a more moderen invention; they got here into the image within the Nineties in small digital units earlier than discovering a market in electrical automobiles. As their use has grown, so too have efforts to recycle them. 

Recycling firms’ processes all look about the identical to an out of doors observer. Batteries are disassembled and crushed up, and the ensuing powder is dissolved earlier than being subjected to varied chemical methods. However the particulars shall be a key deciding consider how a lot of the precious supplies recyclers can get well, and due to this fact how a lot cash they will make. 

Due to advances in these processes, the prospects for constructing a enterprise round battery recycling have improved. The identical dynamic is occurring in photo voltaic panel recycling, the place firms are working to get well silver and different costly supplies from the units. 

On a private degree, I believe discovering methods to recycle and repurpose supplies with a purpose to lower down on waste and harmful mining is a worthwhile aim in itself. However profitability is a surefire technique to make battery recycling extra prone to occur. 

We’re nonetheless within the early days of battery recycling. China has funded and inspired an enormous trade, and now Europe and North America are catching up, with firms elevating  a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in investments and constructing multibillion-dollar services.

For my deep dive into battery recycling, I took a take a look at considered one of these firms, Redwood Supplies. If you wish to study extra about what Redwood is making an attempt to do, or the challenges the corporate is going through, try my characteristic story that got here out yesterday. I additionally acquired to talk with JB Straubel, founding father of Redwood Supplies and former chief know-how officer at Tesla, about the place he thinks the trade is headed. You’ll find an edited model of our dialog right here. 

Maintaining with Local weather

Climeworks introduced that it’s begun eradicating carbon dioxide from the ambiance at its Orca plant in Iceland. (Wall Road Journal)

→ The plant might not be huge, however this can be a main step for carbon elimination, which was considered one of our breakthrough applied sciences in 2022. (MIT Expertise Evaluation)