The trend for electric cars is nowhere but up, and with good reason! They’re a more environmentally-friendly option than gas-powered cars, and they’re also cheaper to operate. But as newer models with better components get introduced in the market, what happens to the old batteries in electric cars when they wear out?
Electric car batteries will slowly degrade and lose capacity over time. In fact, current EVs average around 2% of range loss per year. Over the years, the driving range will also reduce drastically. EV owners can have their batteries serviced, replacing each individual cell inside the battery if they go bad.
However, where will the old ones go if a battery needs replacement? This article will answer that question and assure EV owners that their investment will be worth it in the long run.
How Do Electric Car Batteries Work?
Before we find out what happens to old electric car batteries, it’s important to know how they work in the first place. Electric car batteries are made up of many cells, with each cell providing a certain voltage. The number of cells in an electric car battery will depend on the make and model of the car.
These cells are what store the electrical energy that powers the electric motor. The electric car battery is what provides the juice to make the car go.
When an electric car is plugged into a charger, the cells in the battery are recharged with electrical energy. This gives the car its range, the distance it can travel on a single charge.
How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?
The average electric car battery will last for about eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, this number will vary depending on the make and model of the car, as well as how it’s driven and how often it’s charged.
For example, if an electric car is driven in a stop-and-go city environment, the battery will degrade faster than if it’s driven on the highway. This is because starting and stopping the car uses more power than cruising at a steady speed.
In addition, if an electric car is only charged to 80% capacity instead of 100%, the battery will last longer. This is because charging the battery to 100% puts more stress on the cells and causes them to degrade faster.
So, what happens when an electric car battery reaches the end of its lifespan? Let’s find out.
What Happens To Old Electric Car Batteries?
Now that we know how electric car batteries work, what happens to them when they reach the end of their lifespan or when they no longer power cars reliably and quickly?
The answer is that it depends. If an electric car battery still has some life left in it, it can be used for other purposes.
For example, some companies are repurposing old electric car batteries to store energy from solar panels and wind turbines. This is because batteries can store energy and release it when needed.
This is helpful for when there’s a sudden drop in renewable energy production, like when the sun goes down, or the wind dies down. The stored energy in the batteries can be used to supplement the drop in renewable energy production.
In addition, old electric car batteries can be used in homes and businesses as backup power supplies. This is helpful in case of a power outage or a sudden drop in power from the grid.
Will EV Batteries Be Recycled at the End of Their Lifespan?
Yes! In fact, this happens more likely than not. Most companies are working on recycling electric car batteries because they contain valuable materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium. These materials can be extracted and reused to make new batteries.
In addition, the plastic and metal components of the battery are also recyclable. This is important because it helps reduce electric cars’ environmental impact. It also helps to keep the cost of electric cars down, as recycling electric car batteries is cheaper than making new ones from scratch.
Recycling EV car batteries is a win-win for everyone involved. It’s good for the environment, helps keep the cost of electric cars down, and allows us to reuse valuable materials. At the end of the day, that’s really what EV is all about, right?
Why Use DATAMYTE?
Did you know that most auto manufacturers recycle their EV batteries? They commonly use a workflow that enables them to do this operation as seamlessly as possible. If you plan to incorporate EV battery recycling into your operations, make sure to use DATAMYTE!
DATAMYTE is a data and quality management platform that can help you streamline your operations from start to finish. With DATAMYTE and its Digital Clipboard, you can easily track your EV battery recycling process and ensure that you’re meeting all the necessary requirements.
What’s more, the DataMyte Digital Clipboard can also optimize your workflow to help you optimize your process to reduce waste and improve quality. Plus, you can also get access to our EV checklist template to help you get started!
If you want to learn more about what DATAMYTE can do for your electric car battery recycling process, book a demo with us today!
Conclusion
Now that you know what happens to old electric car batteries, you can feel good about switching to an EV. Not only are you helping the environment by driving an electric car, but you’re also doing your part to recycle and reuse materials.
If you’re running an auto manufacturing business and you’re thinking about recycling your EV batteries, make sure to use DATAMYTE! We can help you streamline your workflow and ensure that your recycling process is effective and efficient. Get started today!
