Forward or Backwards

Topics › Energy › Batteries

What Happens to a Dead EV Battery

Published · 15 min

Watch on YouTube

What actually happens when an electric vehicle battery dies? From the 'battery cliff' facing early adopters of the Nissan Leaf to the complex chemistry of recovery, we explore the journey of a battery pack from the driveway to the recycling plant.

We examine the financial burden of replacement costs, the different recycling methods like pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy, and the massive capacity gap where recycling plants are currently outpacing the supply of dead batteries. Can the industry scale its logistics in time to handle the looming wave of waste?

This documentary investigates the legal battles in the US and China, the strict EU Battery Regulations, and the potential for a 'second life' in stationary energy storage. We ask: is the EV industry truly moving toward a circular economy, or are we just building factories for a future that hasn't arrived yet?

Educational documentary. Not financial or investment advice.

In these topics

Chapters

  1. The Battery Cliff
  2. The Cost of Replacement
  3. The Journey to the Plant
  4. Stripping the Pack
  5. Chemistry of Recovery
  6. The 95% Benchmark
  7. The Capacity Gap
  8. Automaker Alliances
  9. The Legal Battle
  10. The EU Standard
  11. Second Life
  12. Forwards or Backwards?

More from Forward or Backwards on YouTube

Sources and credits

Primary sources

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Not regulated financial advice.