Economics and Challenges of Li-Ion Battery Recycling from End-of-Life Vehicles

This study sheds the lights on current and future recycling methods for spent Li-ion batteries from retired vehicles. The demands of Li-ion batteries for automotive applications and power electronics are expected to increase significantly in the next 15-20 years. Recycling cathode materials from the end of life batteries is not only providing a sustainable source of materials, but also offers an economic alternative to some of the high value elements such as cobalt and nickel. Insights and directions for future R&D will be presented in this paper based on the results of the supply chain and techno-economic analyses made for end-of-life li-ion batteries.