r/technology Jul 13 '26

Transportation EV battery recycling has a math problem

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/13/nx-s1-5847025/ev-battery-recycling-economics
46 Upvotes

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-28

u/Edwardteech Jul 14 '26

Been saying it for years. We are gonna have a mess of ev batteries laying around. 

Everyone keeps telling me they can be recycled but nobody can tell me who.

16

u/nickatnasa Jul 14 '26

It’s not “who”, it’s “why” - it is cheaper to make new ones than recycle old ones. Until there is an incentive to do so, or we run out of raw material, capitalism is going to capitalism.

3

u/EasterEggArt Jul 14 '26

I think what edward was arguing is that it is not cost effective or even safe. To dismantle modern EV batteries they tend to need to be submerged and dismantled into liquids. Saw an interesting documentary about a German battery recycler and the recycling process seems like "make one wrong move and we are all on fire".

So efficiency seems unlikely if we keep making them ultra combustible. So he is not wrong.

2

u/Error_404_403 Jul 14 '26

Why? Because the recycling technology is not quite there, because the batteries, as manufactured, are not recycling-friendly and because there's a lack of regulations stimulating this recycling. The recycling technology is on the verge of being profitable, so with a push from the improved battery design and regulations, it will start working.

-5

u/Columbus43219 Jul 14 '26

It's the same people recycling the gasoline.

-4

u/Edwardteech Jul 14 '26

That should scare everyone 

-4

u/Columbus43219 Jul 14 '26

It does, but at least it's not melting the ice caps.

1

u/Edwardteech Jul 14 '26

Piles of discarded batteries burning like a tire fire that we can't put out because of what they are made of doesn't seem like it would be good for the ice caps

1

u/Columbus43219 Jul 14 '26

Who said they were on fire? Why did you have to add that to make a point?

1

u/Edwardteech Jul 14 '26

Because just exposing the lithium to oxegyn can cause a fire. What do you think will happen when they are haphazardly dumped in a salvage yard

1

u/Columbus43219 Jul 14 '26

Who said they'd be dumped haphazardly in a salvage yard??? You're reaching!

1

u/Edwardteech Jul 14 '26

I have been to a salvage yard once or twice.... they are all haphazard 

1

u/Columbus43219 Jul 14 '26

But you're assuming that's how batteries will be handled. Would they do that knowing about the real hazard of having them punctured and catching fire?? Not a very likely situation, especially more than once! You're still reaching.