EV battery recycling from a Tesla Motors engineer

One of the Tesla engineers went head on at skeptics regarding the contents and recycling of their battery packs, or Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in the company blog.

First, he debunked the assumptions of toxic contents in the batteries - it turns out that there is no:

1. Lead
2. Mercury
3. Cadmium
4. Hexavalent chromium (chromium xxx or Cr6+)
5. Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB)
6. Polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE)

In the end, 60% of the pack gets recycled, another 10% reused in new batteries, and only "benign fluff" ends up getting landfilled. Further, they claim that as they hit scale they'll be able to recycle even more by separating out additional plastic from the ESS. I think it's the best possible strategy to be public about this stuff. Good call Tesla.

Yeah one of the biggest myths about EVs and hybrids is that their batteries are going to die rapidly, are toxic, and will clog up landfills.

Toyota has dealt with these myths in a similar fasion, discussing hybrid battery recycling on their Battery Q&A page.

The new "Car czar," Edward Montgomery will undoubtedly be a fan, as he is set to take an oversight role of the automotive industry since they got so much of our money.  The Scoot Coupe is a three wheeled vehicle that gets almost 80 mpg, and goes up to 55 mph.  You won't need credit repair if you get one either – it retails for under $7,000.  It's manufactured by Panther Motors in Florida, but it doesn't register as a car.  It registers as a motorcycle, and it's perfect for moderate distance transport.  If most of your driving takes place in town, then a Scoot Coupe is right up your alley.  It's set to revolutionize the scooter industry, and it might have a legitimate shot.  It might be worth a no fax cash advance to order a Scoot Coupe.

This is good to hear (read <grin>). 

There are some issues with batteries, but the most important issue is educating the public about proper maintenance and sensible use.  Proper use of batteries will require a little more work (in the near future) compared to the current IC engines.  I think, over time, the industry will improve the durability and make them increasingly "idiot-proof", as the automobile industry has done with the IC engine.

Agreed.  Battery recycling is very important.  Even if infrastructure like the kind envisioned by Better Place (with battery swapping instead of filling up with gasoline) does happen, ultimately there would still be batteries used.  And that would mean when they're spent, they'd have to be dealt with.  So hopefully it's true about the "benign fluff."  And hopefully other EV cars will use similar technology wihtout all those bad chemicals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by WyattQ  The Scoot Coupe is a three wheeled vehicle that gets almost 80 mpg, and goes up to 55 mph.  You won't need credit repair if you get one either – it retails for under $7,000. 

Those rent in Santa Cruz: http://www.cruzcarz.com/  Great fun, but I think the maximum is 30 mph, and it has a centrifugal clutch- which will not engage to the wheels if you have 2 heavy people or dare to try a hill! Very similar to the GoCar (it is a Trigger- Netherlands I think) in San Francisco.

Even 95%+ of the material in lead acid batteries is recycled.  Lead is too valuable to just throw away and the cells only "die" because the lead gets converted to a hard form of lead sulphate that is not easy to dissolve using just electric current (or can't do because the lead paste has fallen out of the retaining grid plates and is sitting as a sludge at the bottom of the cell doing nothing).

The plastics used in these batteries is all recyclable as well and most countries have free battery recycling collection by shops or local authorities because the lead is toxic if thrown away and it is such a valuable commodity.

60% of all lead mined is used in batteries.

Quite funny in a way, many nay-sayers about batteries are having to eat crow!  With different fuel standards it  gives me a feeing of "I told you so" mentally - and feel a little bit better about being a nerd in 2001 when I ventured into electric vehicles.

I think many are actually aware - and have no idea how to solve - the issue with general batteries going to land fills by the millions (ie: AA, AAA, C, D, 9v, and other types).  ...so when they hear of potentially millions of cars with really big batteries, they kinda have a knee-jerk reaction regarding the battery issue - which also gives the nay-sayers some percieved legitimacy.  These EV batteries can be recycled and very likely will be as service will be handled thru dealers and car garages that will get money for them.

People seem to forget that every single car, golf cart, etc. has a heavy lead-acid battery - millions out there driving around!  They are most often recycled for the core deposit.  If these are recycled, why would the even more valuable BEV and Hybrid batteries not be?!?!