When people talk about electric vehicles (EVs), the focus is usually on the tailpipe. And it’s true: EVs produce zero emissions on the road. But what about everything before a car hits the motorway- the raw materials, the manufacturing, and, eventually, the recycling?
This World Environment Day, we’re taking a broader view of what “green driving” really means by looking at how five forward-thinking countries are reshaping the way EV batteries are made, used, and reused!
Let’s get plugged in…
While many countries focus on recycling, Japan takes things one step earlier: reusing. Nissan, for instance, repurposes used EV batteries in creative ways- turning them into backup power for buildings, stabilising renewable energy grids, or even powering remote village infrastructure.
This second-life approach extends the useful lifespan of batteries and gives them a purpose beyond driving.
Residential storage: Ex-EV batteries support solar-powered homes
Emergency response: Portable battery units for natural disaster zones
Public infrastructure: Railway crossings and vending machines powered by old Leaf batteries
Why second life matters: Reusing batteries before recycling delays the environmental cost of processing and extraction- essentially getting double the benefit from the same resource.
Germany isn’t just building EVs, it’s rethinking how they're made and what happens afterward. Mercedes-Benz recently opened a new battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, which uses a low-emissions “hydrometallurgical” process instead of traditional high-heat smelting.
Meanwhile, BMW is developing next-gen solid-state batteries that use more abundant materials and are easier to recycle.
Hydrometallurgy: A water-based recycling technique with fewer emissions
In-house recycling loops: Production waste is immediately reintegrated
Solid-state battery R&D: Less lithium, fewer rare metals, longer life
What is a hydrometallurgical process? A method of recovering metals from used batteries using liquids (like acid solutions) rather than heat. It's cleaner, safer, and more efficient than traditional recycling methods.
South Korea may be best known for its tech exports, but it’s also a hub for battery innovation. Companies like LG Energy Solution and SK On are working on ways to create batteries with fewer toxic elements and better recyclability.
One standout development? Cobalt-free batteries. SK On has developed a nickel-based battery with minimal cobalt, a metal linked to human rights and environmental issues in mining.
South Korea is also home to resource-efficient production, using AI to optimise energy use in factories and predictive tech to improve battery lifespan, reducing early waste.
Cobalt-reduction breakthroughs in new battery chemistries
Predictive AI to monitor battery health and extend life
Recycling partnerships with local tech firms and governments
Why reduce cobalt in batteries? Cobalt is expensive and often mined in conditions that raise ethical concerns. Reducing or eliminating it makes batteries more sustainable—both environmentally and socially.
Norway is often hailed as the EV capital of the world, with over 88% of new car sales now electric. But what’s less well known is that this shift has driven innovation not just in clean transport- but in how batteries are reused and recycled.
With such a large EV fleet already on the road, Norway is at the forefront of developing systems to manage what happens next: second-life storage, localised recycling networks, and a strong governmental push to build a closed-loop battery economy.
Battery reuse in energy storage: Companies like ECO STOR repurpose used EV batteries to support grid infrastructure and store excess renewable energy.
Emerging recycling networks: Local firms are scaling up facilities to recover lithium, cobalt, and other key battery materials from aging EVs.
Government-backed circularity goals: Policy targets are pushing manufacturers to consider full lifecycle responsibility, with incentives for recycling innovation.
What makes Norway’s EV model so effective? Alongside generous incentives, Norway’s success is built on strong public-private partnerships and infrastructure investments, ensuring charging, recycling, and regulation evolve together.
China is the world’s largest EV market, and it’s also leading the charge on industrial-scale battery recycling. National policy mandates that automakers take full responsibility for collecting and recycling used EV batteries.
CATL, one of the world’s largest battery makers, has set up large facilities capable of recovering up to 90% of the critical materials from old batteries. They’re even trialling “urban mining” techniques- extracting precious metals from discarded electronics and batteries instead of the earth.
Automaker accountability: manufacturers must manage end-of-life batteries
High-efficiency recycling plants: focused on lithium, cobalt, manganese
Urban mining programs: turning e-waste into battery-grade material
Urban mining explained: Rather than digging new mines, “urban mining” refers to extracting valuable materials from electronic waste creating a cleaner, more sustainable supply chain.
From China’s large-scale battery reuse programs to Norway’s circular economy leadership, countries around the world are proving that EV sustainability doesn’t stop at the charging cable. By investing in cleaner materials, smarter recycling, and second-life solutions, the EV industry is charging toward a future where batteries are as green as the roads they drive on.
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