In this Brunel Policy Brief, Dr Muhammad Shafique recommends that in light of the drive to transition to more electric vehicle use in the UK, government and the automotive industry should take a holistic approach to end of life battery management.
The rapid rise in EV usage is building to a rapid rise in battery packs reaching end-of-life (EOL) annually. In order to manage the environmental impact of this waste flow, tap into the resources in these batteries, and limit the financial and environmental cost of shipping for recycling, Dr Shafique recommends:
- Investment in domestic battery recycling infrastructure in the UK
- Funding R&D for improving recycling efficiencies
- Update Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to clarify the responsibilities of manufacturers throughout a battery’s lifecycle, including EOL management
- Update recycling standards to establish minimum recycled content in new batteries, in order to increase the demand for recycled materials and therefore make recycling more economically viable
See further details in the full Policy Brief on EOL management of EV batteries