Natural gas prices rose again after 99 straight days of falling prices, according to the AAA.While the cost of natural gas has been steadily rising over a week In many states, those who want to avoid exorbitant gas prices entirely may be considering alternative transportation options — such as electric vehicles (EVs). However, while electric vehicles are known for being an eco-friendly way to get around, the batteries themselves can be a bit of a problem.from Understand environmental issues Innovative solutions related to electric vehicle batteries, this is what you should keep in mind.
environmental issues involved
Electric vehicle batteries will slowly lose capacity over time. While some are recycled or reused for other purposes, they may also end up being discarded in the long run. Author Gregory Barber’s 2021 WIRED article states that “shredding” is the most common situation EV batteries face at the end of their useful life, a practice that involves converting the battery pack into a pile known as “black”. material” impregnation waste. The material is then burned or treated with acid to extract the valuable minerals inside, including nickel and cobalt. The article goes on to explain that while shredding is bad for the environment (due to the flames and acids involved), batteries need to be shredded because they are not designed to be taken apart at all, making the shredding process the most reasonable option (especially since It can be dangerous to disassemble the battery pack).
The Wired article goes on to cite a Swiss company’s recycling program. Kyburz makes electric vehicles and “selects batteries with eventual reuse and recycling in mind.”Batteries are removed piece by piece after being reused in various ways into a reusable material“Our goal is to produce raw materials for new batteries from spent batteries as efficiently as possible,” the article noted, underscoring the fact that the company was able to avoid shredding.
how people make a difference
When looking to reduce the environmental impact of electric vehicles, it can help to ensure that batteries are properly cared for. While many may be concerned about draining the battery on the road, it’s important to understand that it’s much harder to accidentally drain an electric vehicle.There are several warning signs that your EV battery needs to be charged, and the EV provides several visual and audio warnings As the battery starts to drainIf it does drain the battery while driving, be aware that it is less likely to damage the EV powertrain than starving the internal combustion engine on fuel.while lithium-ion batteries Inevitably degrades with time and useextending battery life can be done in a number of ways, such as avoiding fast chargers unless needed, minimizing the time it takes to charge at 100% and 0%, and always reading the user manual for specific charging instructions.
Explore options
While money is flowing to recycling startups and research centers to figure out how to disassemble spent batteries to extract valuable metals on a large scale, extended use is another option, According to an article in the GuardianFor example, companies like Tesla strive to ensure that their EV batteries last as long as possible, noting that “extending the life of battery packs is a better option than recycling for environmental and business reasons. For these reasons, the company does everything in its power to extend the life of each battery pack before decommissioning consumer batteries and sending them back for recycling. Tesla also mentioned that none of their end-of-life lithium-ion batteries go to landfill and are 100% recycled, thus highlighting the environmental benefits involved.
A Forbes article further sheds light on the potential to give EV batteries a second life. According to media reports, most batteries still have enough charge to retain up to 70 percent of their charge capacity for up to eight years. The article further mentions how EV batteries are used, noting that secondary EV batteries “can be reused as energy storage systems (ESS) to store zero-emission electricity generated by wind and solar power plants.”
Choosing to invest in electric vehicles is a great way to lead a more eco-conscious lifestyle. However, while EVs offer a great way to protect the environment by reducing fossil fuel consumption, it is still important to consider the life cycle of EV batteries and what can be done to make the process more environmentally friendly.
