Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling

Lexus continues to be a world leader in the EV market as more and more new vehicles have all-electric power sources. We’re proud of this distinction to offer Aurora drivers a choice in electric vehicles for sale. 

What happens to old electric car batteries when they reach the end of their operational lives? EV batteries will wear out over time similar to other batteries like the ones in your remote control. And like engine oil and tires, our service technicians can’t just throw batteries into a trash dumpster. The metals in the batteries and the liquid used to transmit electricity can contaminate groundwater. The current solution for EV battery disposal comes from a process that breaks down the metal found in EV batteries so it can be reused and repurposed.

Discover all of the details regarding electric car battery recycling from the team at Lexus of Greenwood Village near Parker. You’ll see what happens to old electric car batteries when an EV needs a new one at some point.

How Long Do EV Batteries Last?

All automakers must offer an EV battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, per the federal government. Some research suggests that EV batteries may last as long as 200,000 miles or more, but it depends on the quality of the battery and the battery’s condition over time.

No matter how good the engineering is, all electric vehicle batteries have a shelf life. They’re considered inefficient when they drop to 70 to 75% of full capacity, which can happen in 15 to 20 years. But again, the operational life of batteries depends on several factors.

What Happens to Old Electric Car Batteries at Lexus of Greenwood Village?

When it’s time for EV battery disposal, our service center near Castle Rock switches the old hybrid or EV battery for a new one to go in your car. Then, we ship the battery safely and securely to an electric car battery recycling center. There, the old EV battery undergoes a specific process for recycling.

EV batteries have copper, steel, and aluminum in their shells and wires. These metals typically head to smelters where they are melted down and repurposed into other metal parts.

Inside the tough outer shell are the battery cells themselves. They need more extensive processes to recycle them. The cells contain rarer metals like lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel. These metals end up back at EV battery plants after undergoing a special process to go into new batteries all over again.

The beauty of EV battery disposal is that it reduces manufacturing costs and reliance on new materials from mines. Ideally, it lowers the amount of pollution needed to ship new metals to manufacturing plants and more.

Why Do We Need Electric Car Battery Recycling?

Some metals, like cobalt and manganese, are expensive to mine and harder to obtain than readily available metals such as copper, steel, or aluminum. Recycling these rarer metals can alleviate supply chain issues that could occur through geopolitical or economic forces. Electric car battery recycling can give battery manufacturers a more reliable supply of metals!

Automakers plan to expand production of EVs in the late 2020s and early 2030s. Manufacturers will need more of these materials to keep up with the demand for EV batteries. Responsible EV battery disposal should help automakers meet demand in the next 10 years.

How Else Can We Achieve Electric Car Battery Recycling?

When it’s time for EV battery disposal, even at 70% of capacity these batteries can still store 20 to 90 kWh of power in their cells. These batteries are great for storing home electricity! Specialized companies can turn a series of EV batteries into packs that can store even more electricity than just one alone. These batteries can store and provide power for homes for many hours, such as when the power goes out or solar or wind power is unavailable. Home storage batteries, repurposed from EV battery disposal, could have cells that last up to 10 years!

Shop for New Luxury EVs for Sale in Greenwood Village

Ready for a luxury and reliable new vehicle for your Castle Rock garage? Contact us or call to schedule a test drive! We think one of our EVs will speak your language!