EV Battery Recycling

Date: Jan 12, 2024

blue bmw 5 series electric model at charging station

If you are an EV owner in Miami or you are thinking about making the switch to electric vehicle ownership, you may have concerns about what happens to an EV battery once it is no longer working properly. What happens to old electric car batteries? When it comes time for EV battery disposal, do they just end up in landfills or can they be recycled? We explore the basics of electric car battery recycling in the guide below. 

What Happens to Old Electric Car Batteries? 

EV battery disposal is actually a multi-step process to keep these batteries out of landfills. The batteries are recyclable, and auto recyclers send the batteries to specialized firms to take the battery packs apart. The components are separated, and after, the cells and circuits are crushed to separate and purify the various metals.

Dealerships around Hollywood and Coconut Creek like BMW of Fort Lauderdale responsibly dispose of hybrid batteries as well. Most automakers have guidelines and collection programs for these batteries. 

EV Battery Disposal and Recycling 

Electric car battery recycling and hybrid battery recycling are very similar, even though EV batteries hold significantly more energy. Here’s how the process works.

  • EV battery packs are shipped to a facility that specializes in recycling and disassembling the batteries. 
  • Any steel, copper, or aluminum scrap metal typically goes into the nationwide metals-recycling stream.
  • The battery cells are ground up and the stream is purified to reveal a pure supply of materials like lithium, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and nickel. 

The Future of EV Battery Recycling

Can battery packs be repurposed? As of right now, there is not a robust market of “second-use” EV batteries. However, this may change in the future. Demand for EV batteries is sure to soar in the coming years as more and more automakers transition to an EV future. While liquid hydrocarbons no longer provide energy after they’re burned, that is not the case for many of the components of an EV battery, such as cobalt. End-of-life EV batteries offer a future source of those valuable metals, which then do not have to be mined again and again. 

Explore the EV Lifestyle with BMW of Fort Lauderdale

If you have any additional questions about what happens to old electric car batteries or EV battery disposal, do not hesitate to reach out to the team at BMW of Fort Lauderdale. Have you been considering EV ownership? Our team would be more than happy to provide you with the information you need to make a more informed decision. Contact us today.

Dealership Info

Phone Numbers:Sales Hours:
  • Mon - Fri9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
  • Sat9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sun12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Service Hours:
  • Mon - Fri7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sat8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • SunClosed
Parts Hours:
  • Mon - Fri7:30 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Sat8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • SunClosed
BMW of Fort Lauderdale 26.1051997, -80.1371954.