Where Do EV Batteries Go When They Die?

When I first thought about EV batteries, I imagined them like giant phone batteries—eventually, they’d stop working, and I’d have to replace them. But then I started wondering: where do these massive battery packs go after they can’t power a car anymore?

At first, I worried that EV batteries would create a new environmental disaster—thousands of massive, toxic battery packs piling up in landfills. But as I looked into it, I found a much more promising reality: EV batteries don’t just “die.” They still have a lot of value left in them, even when they’re no longer suitable for cars.

Many retired EV batteries still retain 70-80% of their original capacity, which makes them perfect for energy storage. Instead of being thrown away, they’re being repurposed to store solar and wind power, helping to stabilize energy grids and provide backup power for homes and businesses. Companies are already using second-life EV batteries for renewable energy projects, extending their usefulness by decades.

And when a battery really has reached the end of the line? That’s where recycling comes in. New battery recycling methods can recover over 95% of valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which can then be used to make new batteries. Companies like Redwood Materials and Li-Cycle are leading the charge in this space, and automakers are designing batteries with easier recycling in mind.

The real challenge now is scaling up recycling infrastructure. Right now, only a small percentage of EV batteries are being recycled, but that’s quickly changing as governments and companies push for stricter regulations. If we do this right, EV batteries won’t be an environmental burden—they’ll be part of a circular system where materials are continuously reused, making EVs even more sustainable in the long run.