Is charging an EV moving pollution to somewhere else?

[Mundo]

Wow, this turned into an interesting discussion. I didn't expect this much response.

Now, I'm curious about the cost and ramifications of disposing of an EV, especially batteries! The recyclability of electric motors, I fully understand, but batteries...I don't.
Aren't they considered hazard's?

I seen documentaries on the amount of E-waste the world creates, it's astounding. Recycling techniques vary widely, some reasonable, others downright evil!


I didn't build my e-bikes to be green, just wanted to enjoy biking again, while in my 60s. At this point, I find it very practical, though I want to be aware of the hidden costs.

 

[MadRhino]

The batteries, most Li chemistry at least, are not a problem to dispose. It is at the production end that Lithium does make a lot of pollution, like all the other rare earth metals that do require to mine a large amount of dirt to collect very little.

 

[Punx0r]

I guess that only applies to chemistries containing cobalt?

My info could be out of date, but last I read there was no recycling strategy for Li-ion batteries: Landfill only, even for LiCo with it's relatively valuable Co content.

 

[Drunkskunk]

Right now the only easily recycled battery is Lead Acid. Lithium batteries are mostly recyclable, but the cost is 5 times higher than obtaining raw resources. The Lithium content is only about 8 grams per 100wh, so there isn't much lithium in these batteries. Lithium is worth $0.0027 cents per gram right now, so it wouldn't be worth the cost to extract it.

 

[dogman dan]

Yeah, I strongly suspect that when I drop off old RC batteries at the city recycle, they just get tossed in the landfill in the end. Can't be sold.

Old lead I don't give away, a 2 mile bike ride to a place that buys them.

 

[Mundo]

With all the studies and research going into the production batteries, you would think recycling lithium batteries would have some value.

Sounds like mining silver, the cost of mining exceeds the market price, or close to it!

 

[nutnspecial]

Cept I'd certainly rather buy silver, gold (or anything raw actually) that has more shelf life and is less toxic than the latest industrial offerings of energy storage in battery form.

I guess refining lead is pretty bad too, but I'm betting anything that's come after is environmentally worse to make and retire, and definitely more expensive? -1 for science and tech on nicad and li in that department

 

[liveforphysics]

Cept I'd certainly rather buy silver, gold (or anything raw actually) that has more shelf life and is less toxic than the latest industrial offerings of energy storage in battery form.

I guess refining lead is pretty bad too, but I'm betting anything that's come after is environmentally worse to make and retire, and definitely more expensive? -1 for science and tech on nicad and li in that department

Ironically gold, silver, and diamond mining perhaps rapes the earth more than any and/or all others metal production, vastly more than batteries.

 

[Chalo]

Ironically gold, silver, and diamond mining perhaps rapes the earth more than any and/or all others metal production, vastly more than batteries.

Copper mining leaves the biggest holes, and some of the nastiest tailings. Copper does a lot of work for us to justify its costs, though-- gem diamonds, not so much.

 

[dogman dan]

Certainly you'd get a lot of agreement that gold mining leaves a mess around Durango Colorado right now. Or anywhere along the Animas.

But when it comes to the size of the hole, Copper mines leave a big one. Coal on the other hand, tends to get the hole re buried, and leave land that is plausibly useful again in a century or so.

 

[Chalo]

It's hard to beat gold mines for their huge open-air pools full of cyanide. That's a classy feature.

 

[nutnspecial]

Really?

 

[Chalo]

Did I really need some kind of emoticon to come through on that?

 

[The fingers]

It's hard to beat gold mines for their huge open-air pools full of cyanide. That's a classy feature.

Mercury also comes to mind.