When an EV battery comes to the end of its life (typically around 10 years), it doesn't end up in a landfill. Thankfully, regulations ban the incineration and disposal of EV batteries in landfills. So, what does happen?
When an EV battery dies, likely, there is still some charge capacity - not enough to power an EV - but enough for other energy storage purposes. Depending on the battery condition, it is awarded a grade to indicate its efficiency. These grades will determine whether the battery is for recycling or repurposing.
If an EV is graded for repurposing, this typically means that the battery will be used for secondary energy storage uses, such as power packs or solar energy repositories. While this effectively gives an EV battery a second life, the options for secondary battery use are currently limited, but not for long! EV battery technology is growing more powerful year on year - and with exciting developments like solid-state batteries on the horizon, second-life uses for batteries will also grow. The most exciting of these possibilities? Sustainable grid management. This would mean that used EV batteries would store clean energy, powering the grid during peak usage.
Want to learn more about solid-state batteries? Check out our blog: How do EVs work?