According to India’s Battery Waste Rules of 2022, makers of electric vehicles are required to collect and recycle old batteries, EV battery recycling, which if not properly disposed of can potentially become dangerous to the environment.
What needs to be done under the rules?
The target for recovery is set to rise from 70% in 2024-25 to 90% in 2026-27. In case the producers fail to meet the target, they will have to pay a fine. The battery market in India is expected to explode to 600 GWh by 2030 while the country produces around 50,000 tonnes of battery waste every year.(86% of the waste comes from lead-acid batteries and dry cells).
What can we get from recycled batteries?
Hydrometallurgy helps to recover over 95% lithium and cobalt. So, since India relies on imported lithium, cobalt, graphite and nickel, recycling might be a good option.
Will we have enough supplies? – EV battery recycling
Not just yet. A CSEP report says battery volume is small until 2030 and it increases rapidly thereafter. The recycling industry will cover only about 10% of demand for lithium used in electric automobiles from 2026-27 to 2030-31 and current legislation may lead to premature retirement of batteries.
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