siliconindia | | FEBRUARY 20258With the rising change towards sustainable transportation, the demand for lithium-ion batteries, critical for powering devices from smartphones to electric vehicles (EVs), has flowed significantly. The fast development of the EV industry, with global electric car production increasing fivefold in recent years, presents major challenges as critical raw materials like cobalt, nickel, and manganese become harder to obtain and their mining results in significant environmental harm. Battery recycling has become vital for recovering materials, reducing reliance on mining, and minimizing environmental impact. It supports a circular economy, conserves resources, and ensures the sustainability of greener energy solutions, fostering a cleaner future.Let's have a look at how battery recycling fuels the growth of EVIn reality, lithium-ion batteries power EVs and last about 8 to 15 years. Growing demand is already emerging as the pace of expansion for the EV industry continues to expand, spurred on by the momentum of a new direction toward more sustainable transportation. In 2020, electric cars took the global market to 10 million units, and as this increase is seen in the future, the quantity of used batteries is likely to multiply multifold by 2040, with an estimated 7.8 million tonnes of used batteries annually. Any mishandling of these batteries can lead to severe environmental hazards as they contain toxic materials and may cause outbreaks of fire. Battery recycling boasts numerous environmental and financial benefits, where raw material exploitation is reduced at a minimum, accompanied by the impact of mining dangerous critical materials. It is proven that recycled lithium batteries can provide an estimated 95 percent of necessary new battery manufacturing. In doing so, further, it averts the poisoning of the very earth with chemical hazards. The battery recycling market is anticipated to reach $11.83 billion by 2030 with a compound annual growth rate of 5.3 percent.Rahul Shonak, COO of Nexzu Mobility, says, "EVs are the future when it comes to a sustainable mobility solution. The current mobility model is one that has a drastic impact on the environment, and it is only logical to adopt innovations that not only take care of mobility requirements but also environmental concerns".Battery Recycling with New TechnologiesRecent developments in battery recycling technologies have transformed the process, making it cheaper and more efficient. Two primary methods are widely used for recycling lithium-ion batteries:Pyrometallurgical Recycling: High-temperature processing to extract metals, which is now being refined for greater efficiency and reduced pollution.Hydrometallurgical recycling: A low-temperature, aqueous process with higher recovery rates and a lower environmental impact.New technologies include direct recycling that allows the complete recovery of the whole battery components without breaking them, promising both savings in costs and better quality materials, therefore better sustainability.EDITORIAL EXCLUSIVEHOW CLOSED LOOP BATTERY RECYCLING CAN HELP IN WASTE MANAGEMENT
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