How long do electric car batteries last?
Electric cars rely on batteries to run their motors. Their lifespan, depending on make, is between 8 and 15 years but like all things, they will eventually wear out. The good news is that a dead battery doesn’t have to mean a trip to a landfill site. Instead, it can be recycled and used to make new batteries, or repurposed and given another job.
As long as a battery can still store energy, it can be refurbished and repurposed and be used to help balance things like power grids. If it can’t hold enough energy to do a second job, then a battery will be recycled and have valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel removed and used in new ones.
Driving an electric car is a great start in reducing your environmental impact, but reducing your car’s carbon footprint goes beyond its fuel type. Understanding your options when key components like batteries run out of juice will help you reach your own sustainable goals.
- The lifespan of electric car batteries
- Recycling electric car batteries
- How to repurpose your EV battery at home
- FAQs
The lifespan of electric car batteries
How long do they typically last?
A 2023 study on 15,000 electric vehicles showed that battery replacement is a rare occurrence. Only 225 (1.5%) of the 15,000 vehicles needed their battery replaced – most of which were models predating 2015.
Electric car batteries generally last anything between 8 and 15 years. The main things that affect battery longevity are usage, and environmental factors like climate – for example, living in extremely hot or cold conditions.
Most manufacturers offer warranties ranging from 8 to 10 years or around 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
Battery technology is continuously improving. These advances, combined with proper maintenance, mean batteries are lasting longer and longer.
With the 2035 switchover looming, EVs must be performing at their best, and long-life, reliable batteries are only going to help their adoption.
Factors influencing battery longevity
Car battery lifespan can be affected by several factors:
| Driving habits | 👎 Frequent high-speed driving and rapid acceleration can reduce battery life. |
| Climate | 👎 Extreme temperatures, particularly heat, can degrade battery performance. |
| Charging habits | 👎 👍 Regular fast charging can wear out batteries faster than slow, steady charging. |
| Maintenance | 👍 Proper care and regular servicing can extend battery life. |
| Battery management systems | 👍 Advanced systems help optimise performance and lifespan. |
Signs that an EV battery needs replacement
Sometimes, you may have to replace your car’s battery earlier than expected. If your car suddenly has a significant performance drop or reduction in range, it may be a sign that its overall health isn’t great:
🪫 Reduced range: Significant decrease in driving range on a full charge.
⚡ Slow charging: If your car takes much longer to charge than previously.
🚨 Warning lights: Dashboard alerts for battery issues.
🏎️ Performance drop: Noticeable decline in overall vehicle performance.
🛑 Physical signs: Swelling or leakage from the battery pack
Recycling electric car batteries
The recycling process explained
Recycling electric car batteries is crucial for sustainability and the environment, and you can drop faulty or degraded batteries off at hazardous waste sites, car garages, and some scrap metal facilities.
By choosing to recycle a battery, you’re stopping it from ending up in landfill. Improper disposal of car batteries significantly increases the likelihood of the chemicals they contain leaking and harming the environment.
The recycling process removes valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel and other metals. First, the batteries are collected and dismantled and any hazardous components are carefully handled to prevent environmental contamination. Then, the batteries are processed through various recycling methods, such as hydrometallurgical, direct, and pyrometallurgical recycling. The recovered materials are then used to produce new batteries, promoting a circular economy.
Hydrometallurgical recycling
This method is best for recovering high-purity metals. It has less of an impact on the environment than other methods. It’s most commonly used for recycling lithium-ion batteries and allows any valuable materials to be reused in new batteries.
The three-step process of hydrometallurgical recycling is:
♻️ Step 1: Leaching: Batteries are crushed, and metals are dissolved using acids or solvents.
♻️ Step 2: Purification: The solution of acids, metals and solvents is then purified.
♻️ Step 3: Recovery: Metals are removed from the solution and collected for reuse elsewhere (such as in new batteries).
Direct recycling
This method is energy-efficient. It preserves more of the original materials and is a new approach making it exciting for future battery recycling technologies.
The three-step process of direct recycling is:
♻️ Step 1: Disassembly: Batteries are carefully dismantled to access individual components.
♻️ Step 2: Separation: Active materials like electrodes are separated.
♻️ Step 3: Refurbishment: Electrodes can be prepared for reuse in batteries by being cleaned, reconditioned, and re-lithiated if necessary.
Pyrometallurgical recycling
While effective at recovering metals, this method requires significant energy and can produce emissions. However, it can be used on a much larger scale than hydrometallurgical recycling.
The three-step process of pyrometallurgical recycling is:
♻️ Step 1: Smelting: Batteries are melted in a furnace, separating metals from other materials.
♻️ Step 2: Refining: Valuable metals like cobalt, nickel, and copper are extracted from the melted metal.
♻️ Step 3: Slag handling: Non-metallic materials are turned into a substance called ‘slag’, which can be used in construction. As with the other recycling processes, the metals can be used in new batteries.
How to repurpose your EV battery at home:
If your EV battery can no longer power your car, taking it to a recycling or waste fulfilment centre isn’t your only option. Your EV can continue making your lifestyle greener, in other ways.
You can repurpose it at home to use for backup power, or connect it to a solar energy system.
Step 1: Check your battery’s up to scratch
If you replace your battery, or scrap it out of your EV, make sure to check that it has enough capacity to be of use in the home.
Step 2: Call a pro
Get a professional to break down your battery into individual modules or cells, as needed.
Step 3: Convert your battery
To store energy at home, or as part of a solar energy system, you’ll need a few more parts to get your old EV battery up and running:
- A battery management system for safe operation and monitoring
- An inverter to convert DC to AC power
- A cooling system to maintain optimal temperatures
Step 4: Integrate with your home energy system
- Solar power integration: Connect the battery to your solar power system to store any excess energy generated – a must if you live with the UK’s unreliable weather.
- Grid integration: Use the battery to provide backup power during outages, or to store energy during off-peak hours for use during peak hours. Depending on your provider, this could be a great way to save on your tariff.
Remember to regularly check your system for efficient and safe operation.
FAQs
How easy is it to recycle your car battery in the UK?
At the moment, they are collected at garages, scrap metal facilities, and recycling centres. A quick search online will help you find your nearest hazardous waste disposal service or recycling facility. Most of these recycling centres are free.
Can electric car batteries be recycled in the UK?
Electric car batteries can be recycled in the UK. Several facilities and programmes focus on recycling lithium-ion batteries, extracting valuable materials, and ensuring environmentally safe disposal. The UK government is also investing in expanding battery recycling infrastructure.
Is lithium mining bad for the environment?
Lithium mining can be harmful to the environment as it requires extensive water use. Additionally, the mining process can cause habitat destruction, soil degradation, and pollution, affecting local ecosystems and communities.
Ready to sell?
Ready to learn more about valuing, maintaining, and selling your car?Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from hybrid and electric car depreciation to converting your car to dual-LPG fuel.
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- Electric car depreciation – comprehensive guide
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