It is true that there are currently few places that can recycle these batteries, that is because there are almost no batteries reaching the end of their useful life as life is exceeding expectations. EU and UK law demands that manufacturers take responsibility for batteries and an industry is developing in readiness. Manufacturers must accept their batteries back from consumers, and properly dispose of them. The first step in the recycling process will be disassembly of the battery into individual modules, and repurposing of modules either for aftermarket automotive batteries, or where capacity is lower, for stationary use, for example to store excess solar energy for night-time use where they can have another entire product life. Cells that are unusable for this will be reprocessed into usable materials and waste, in specialised reprocessing facilities.
While there are environmental costs with Lithium Batteries, there are greater environmental costs with Diesel and Petrol cars, and Joe believes the scientific consensus that that we must make sensible use of Lithium Batteries as a means to decrease carbon emissions.
The high value of Cobalt has encouraged uncontrolled mining of material including exploitation of child labour in some countries, particularly the Democratic Republic Of Congo. It seems likely that controls on sourcing have been insufficient to prevent such materials being used in Automotive Lithium (NMC) Batteries. Note that alternative battery chemistries, such as Lithium Iron Phosphate Oxide (LFP) used in around 50% of Tesla vehicles do not use Cobalt in their manufacture. Tesla has reduction in use of Cobalt as a stated aim, however NMC chemistry can store more energy per weight of battery so will not be replaced.
Significant pressures exist to reform the industry and while damage has occurred , scientific consensus is that benefits outweigh disadvantages. There is greater injury and damage occurring through fossil fuel use.
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