I'm not pro or con on this topic. Just curious and want to learn. Cut-n-paste off the net:
In the U.S., there’s no federal guidelines on how to handle the spent batteries, but companies like Toyota, Tesla and Nissan have their own refurbishing programs.
My comment here. Remember the issues with airbag failures and the numerous lawsuits to force the manufacturers to take action. We trust manufacturers to self-police?
Lithium-ion car batteries are required to be recycled under North Carolina (my state) state law. They’re banned from NC landfills.
Cobalt, is one of today’s preferred components used to make the lithium-ion batteries that power EVs. Cobalt is mined all over the world, but 50 to 60 percent of the global supply comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which has a poor human rights track record. According to UNICEF and Amnesty International, around 40,000 children are involved in cobalt mining.
Rechargeable Lithium Ion batteries are potentially hazardous and can present a serious FIRE HAZARD if damaged, defective or improperly used.
My comment here. I recall exploding laptops and cell phones from past battery designs. I was at my local tire/automotive shop today and was told that a Tesla owner run over something and was asking them if they could fix it. The shop tech found that the EV battery was punctured. Tesla quoted the shop $18,000 for a new battery, the local shop didn't have a trained tech to do a replacement plus the shop was not able to deal with recycling a leaking battery.
Last edited by buoymaker; 10/27/2020 3:51 PM.
