What happens to used electric car batteries? • Hacker News Board

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#21

Post by beloch » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 7:34 AM UTC

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

Such a law would kill structural batteries [1] in their infancy. That may or may not be a good thing.

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[1]https://scitechdaily.com/big-breakthrough-for-massless-energ...

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#22

Post by morsch » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 7:42 AM UTC

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

Ideal is detergent powder in recycled paper packaging. Or would be, I don't think you can buy it that way.

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#23

Post by stubish » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 7:46 AM UTC

Does recycled mean scrapping, or refurbishing for less strenuous use such as household or industrial power storage. I would think the lifespan of a car battery should be 20 years, with only 10 actually in a car.

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#24

Post by catlikesshrimp » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 7:58 AM UTC

landemva wrote: post #9

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

USA exports used solar panels for disposal in trash dumps 'over there'. The entire lifecycle of electric usage is important and easily overlooked. Be precise with legislation. For example, some States forbid landfill of whole tires. This led to collection of per-tire disposal fee and the landfills purchasing new wheel loader to scoop whole tires into new shredder which uses new conveyor to pile up the tire shreds. Wh…

Is that a loophole in the law? You can't dispose of tires but if you shred them, they are no longer tires, and you can now dispose of them?

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#25

Post by dEnigma » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 7:59 AM UTC

morsch wrote: post #22

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

Ideal is detergent powder in recycled paper packaging. Or would be, I don't think you can buy it that way.

You can definitely buy powder in paper/cardboard packaging, at least here in Austria. But I just checked my box, and it's unfortunately not made from recycled fibers. At least recycling this won't be a problem.

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#26

Post by catlikesshrimp » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 8:06 AM UTC

idrisser wrote: post #18

These articles are insane, 10min in until you get to the part of what happens to used batteries. I’m really thinking the media business model is totally broken for these authors to not go straight to the point

It is more opinion than investigative journalism.

This is the only information about what actually happens to batteries. It is very imprecise. And limited to one company

"When batteries can’t be fixed or reused, the company recycles some at its onsite facility. It also stores batteries. Lots of them. SNT’s main warehouse in Oklahoma City holds hundreds of electric car batteries, stacked on shelves that jut 30 feet into the air. With the Bolt recall, GM will send SNT many more."

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#27

Post by themitigating » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 8:09 AM UTC

russellbeattie wrote: post #17

smileysteve wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The tub is very realistically user reusable, at least once. Both the tub and the bag have less carbon footprint than a cotton bag, glass container, or metal tin. Likely less than transporting liquid detergent (though more than powder in cardboard)

The tub has to be thoroughly cleaned, and even then you shouldn't store food in it because of the detergents possibly permeating the plastic. I read this in an article about repurposing the tubs as Jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween. Anyways, what's your point? They could use cardboard just as easily. And that still doesn't excuse plastics being used today that are non recyclable.

If it gets wet then the pods would be ruined.

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#28

Post by themitigating » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 8:10 AM UTC

beloch wrote: post #21

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

Such a law would kill structural batteries [1] in their infancy. That may or may not be a good thing. -------- [1] https://scitechdaily.com/big-breakthrough-for-massless-energ...

Couldn't they just cut it out like extracting part of a car frame? The goal is to get inside for the packs

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#29

Post by catlikesshrimp » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 8:11 AM UTC

The question in the article title remains unanswered. The long article develops the question, only.

As I see it, the batteries will end in landfills, best case. If you can pay for it, they will end in landfills abroad. Nobody who is relevant is serious about this problem because those batteries are still working.

Consumers are sold the idea that the situation will improve in the future. Hopefully, I have to add.

So much for climate change.

Re: What happens to used electric car batteries?

#30

Post by BrandoElFollito » Sat, Nov 06, 2021, 8:11 AM UTC

morsch wrote: post #22

russellbeattie wrote: post #4

We need legislation immediately which requires that all new batteries are designed and made to be disassembled for recycling both easily and cheaply. Do it now, while the industry is ramping up so the costs can be built into the system. Also, every battery that is produced should have a serial number on it. These are not things that can just be dumped in a hole and forgotten. The manufacturer of that battery should b…

Ideal is detergent powder in recycled paper packaging. Or would be, I don't think you can buy it that way.

A French company (https://900.care) does that.

No affiliation, but I want to try them out after they popped up in my youtube ads following searches on exactly these kind of products. I do not know if they are good but zt least they tick the sustainability part I was looking for.