Short Wave Solving The EV Battery Recycling Puzzle
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Sep 23, 2024 
Business correspondent Camila Domonoske, a specialist in electric vehicle batteries and recycling, takes listeners on a captivating journey through the future of EV battery recycling. She discusses advancements that aim to address the environmental challenges of battery disposal and compares recycling to wrestling with Lego bricks. Camila highlights innovative techniques that improve efficiency and minimize waste while recovering valuable materials like lithium and cobalt, showcasing how local efforts can tackle a global issue.
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EV Battery Recycling Challenge
- EV batteries pose a significant environmental challenge if not recycled properly.
- Recycling is crucial, but it must be economically viable to ensure widespread adoption.
Visit to Ascend Elements
- Camila Domonoske visited Ascend Elements, a battery recycling facility near Boston.
- She observed a colorful array of chemical solutions, highlighting the complexity of battery composition.
Hydrometallurgy vs. Pyrometallurgy
- Traditional pyrometallurgy, burning batteries, is inefficient and polluting.
- Hydrometallurgy, using acid, offers a cleaner and more efficient recycling approach.