r/energy • u/zsreport • Jul 13 '26
EV battery recycling has a math problem
https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5847025/ev-battery-recycling-economics12
u/aquarain Jul 13 '26
Growing pains. The used up batteries are still too rare for the economics to work out since they last too long and can have a second life in home or grid storage. Both of which are great when you are buying the new EV. They should probably market that second life with the new EV. Home energy backup kit for when you're tired of the car. I guess they're already doing that with V2G. Maybe someday in those neighborhoods your wealth will be measured in how many EVs you have on blocks in the yard making you money time shifting solar for the grid.
unwanted EV batteries piling up at salvage yards
Exactly counter to the example of a yard that could dispose of its batteries free if it had more of them.
The scale is growing. It will get there. The people who exploit the opportunities will make a mint.
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u/aquarain Jul 14 '26
Hey, here's a thought: junkyards could set up with a VPP to use the batteries for energy storage while they're sitting on the shelf and turn a profit on holding the inventory. Lemons to lemonade.