Redwood Materials, founded by Tesla cofounder and former chief technical officer J. B. Straubel, is leading the way in developing a circular economy for electric vehicles (EVs). The company has been working on the California EV Battery Recycling Program since February 2022, and has now provided an update 12 months after its launch.
Redwood has already processed 6 GWh of lithium-ion batteries annually, which is the equivalent of 60,000 EVs. This makes them the largest recycler of lithium-ion batteries in North America. The company’s goal is to make the extraction of valuable materials like lithium and nickel from used batteries more cost effective than traditional mining, which would ultimately pave the way for a circular economy.
During the first 12 months of the Californian pilot program, Redwood has collected 1,268 EOL battery packs totalling around 500,000 pounds (227 tonnes) from 19 different BEV and hybrid models. The company was able to extract over 95% of the metals from the used battery packs which included lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper.
Redwood has also been working on developing pathways for end-of-life (EOL) battery packs to be disassembled, broken down and recycled. Initially partnering with Ford and Volvo, Toyota and Volkswagen Group have also come on board and Redwood encourages other automakers to join the program saying they will accept all lithium-ion (Li-ion) and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries in the state.
The company says that the logistics involved in the system is the most significant cost. As the volumes of EOL batteries increase, economies of scale will bring these costs down significantly. Redwood is confident that, in time, as EOL pack volumes increase, the logistics cost will decrease so that batteries will become assets that will help make EVs more sustainable and affordable in the long run.
Redwood Materials is leading the way in developing a circular economy for electric vehicles. With its California EV Battery Recycling Program, the company is proving that it is possible to extract valuable materials from used batteries and create a closed loop recycling system that would dramatically reduce the need for mining once the world’s fleet is fully battery electric.
FAQ
Q1: Are electric car batteries recyclable?
A1: Yes, electric car batteries are recyclable.
Q2: Are electric car chargers free?
A2: It depends on the charger and the location. Some electric car chargers are free, while others may require a fee.
Q3: Can electric car batteries be rebuilt?
A3: Yes, electric car batteries can be rebuilt with the right tools and knowledge.
