The deadline at which no new petrol or diesel cars will be sold in the UK is fast approaching and it is clear that electric vehicle (EV) take up in the UK is climbing.
According to RAC estimates, in 2025 there were 1.4 million zero-emission battery EVs being driven in the UK. Given that from 2030 it will not be possible to buy a new petrol or diesel vehicle, this number is only expected to continue increasing.
However, with EV battery technology advancing all the time, as well as new models being released to the market by all the major automakers, there is one question that keeps popping up within the auto manufacturing industry: how can you effectively recycle EV batteries?
Is it possible to recycle EV batteries?
In short, yes. However, it is a highly specialised process that requires both specialist equipment and knowledge to recover the majority of the valuable materials that are used in EV batteries.
There are two main ways in which to recycle EV batteries in 2025: pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Pyrometallurgy breaks the battery into its constituent components by heating it at very high temperatures.
Meanwhile, hydrometallurgy uses acid to turn the component parts of the battery into liquids, allowing the valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, aluminium and nickel to be extracted and then reused for new batteries.
The main downside to the pyrometallurgical process is that it produces high emissions during the incineration of the battery.
Why do we need to recover these materials from EV batteries?
There are several reasons to focus on recycling EV batteries to recover the most valuable metals and materials.
The first is that extracting the likes of lithium, cobalt and nickel from the ground is environmentally damaging and expensive. What’s more, these minerals are concentrated in small parts of the planet, which restricts their availability.
Second, there is only a finite supply of all of these materials on the planet. Therefore, we will need to create a circular economy to provide EV manufacturers with the minerals and other components they need to continue producing batteries.
Third, EV manufacturers are experimenting with different chemical makeups for their batteries to either avoid highly priced elements, to make their batteries more efficient, or both.
This means that materials that may have been less valuable in the early days of EV development are set to rise in value. This could make EV battery recycling more economical and therefore appealing as a business.
How many EV batteries are there to be recycled?
The RAC figures highlight the potential scope for the EV battery recycling industry, given that there are well over one million EVs registered in the UK at present and this figure is only set to grow.
What’s more, the oldest EVs on the roads, which were released in 2011 and 2012, are approaching or have reached the expected lifespan of an EV battery of around 12 to 15 years. While the number of EVs at this stage is still comparatively small, it’s clear that the number will rise.
Estimates shared by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that the UK could have 28,000 tonnes of EV batteries ready for recycling by 2030. But within a further decade, this volume will increase to 235,000 tonnes.
What does the future of the UK’s EV battery recycling market look like?
The UK government is actively encouraging the development of EV battery recycling facilities in the country to ensure that this process can be carried out without the need to send batteries or their components overseas for some or all of this process.
Research and analysis published by the government in 2023 highlighted the economic potential of developing EV battery recycling facilities in the UK to help meet the growing demand for new EVs by reusing valuable materials from existing batteries.
What part could the chemical industry play in future EV battery development?
EV battery technology is continuously developing as new substances are being explored. One in particular that holds promise is lithium lanthanum titanate.
Research has found that this substance has the potential to not only extend the lifecycle of EV batteries, but also to deliver ultra-fast charging and improved safety.
This means lithium lanthanum titanate suppliers could be in greater demand in the years ahead if EV battery manufacturers decide to start using this chemical as part of their battery design.
Of course, recycled EV battery materials will also be required to produce new batteries with a lower environmental impact, helping deliver the true environmental benefits from the transition to EVs.