This new technology that powers up our cars is here, but we don’t know much about it, right? A battery powers a new engine, which sounds like something from the future compared to the old gas-powered cars.
So, how is the battery that makes our electric cars made? The key components are the anode, cathode, separator, electrolyte, and lithium ions. Materials used are carbon, nickel, lithium, manganese, and cobalt, among others. The highest need is for lithium because most of the battery is made of it.
But did you know that there are several types of batteries? Also, an interesting question is the available materials needed and how batteries can be recycled. Stay with us, and cover this interesting topic!
How Are Electric Car Batteries Made?
You may think that a lithium-ion battery is made in one solid piece, but it is not. Batteries are split into cells. A battery cell is a basic part of a battery. Several cells are merged into a module. A module is a frame for battery cells, so they can be protected and used safely. Several modules make a battery that is used in a car.
Lithium-ion battery packs are mostly glued or welded one to another, so it is very hard to pull them apart if the need for that shows.
Check Out How EV Batteries Are Made:
What Are Electric Vehicle Batteries Made Of?
NiMH
NiMH or Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are made of nickel mixed with metal compounds. It is divided into three layers – a positive electrode (anode), a separator, and a negative electrode (cathode). These elements are rolled up in a coil and placed in a metal casing. Then, before closing the battery with a cup, the liquid electrolyte is added.
Lithium Ion
Lithium-ion batteries are made of positive and negative electrodes and, combined with electrolytes, produce electricity. Electrodes are made of carbon, graphite, metal oxide, and lithium salt. Several technologies are out there, and different elements are used, but lithium is the constant.
How Much Raw Material Does It Take To Make An Electric Car Battery?
It all depends on the battery and the car model, but we will take average numbers so that you can get a glimpse at the figures in question:
- 25 pounds of lithium
- 60 pounds of nickel
- 44 pounds of manganese
- 30 pounds of cobalt
- 200 pounds of copper
- 400 pounds of steel, plastic, and aluminum.
Where Do Electric Car Batteries Come From?
Most of the electric vehicle batteries come from factories in China. Also, batteries are made in the USA, Poland, Hungary, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.
Materials are gathered from all over the world. Lithium is mostly mined in South America, specifically Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia; cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while nickel is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Electric Car Battery Production Issues
Environmental Problems
Mining most of the raw materials needed for making lithium-ion batteries harms the environment. Either lithium, which requires a lot of water to be extracted, or cobalt and nickel – mining them is a hazard.
Availability of Materials
Materials can be found, and much research is underway, but it is all going too slowly. Not many countries are ready to sacrifice their land for these hazardous mining operations, so finding locations is hard.
Electric Car Battery Disposal Pollution
Lithium batteries are considered non-hazardous waste, but studies have shown they can contaminate water. Besides lithium, other elements of batteries can also endanger the ecosystem if not disposed of properly. The problem of informal and unsupervised battery storage can lead to ecosystem problems.
Can Electric Car Batteries Be Repurposed or Recycled?
Yes, it can. Many materials used for making batteries harm the environment, so recycling or reusing them is important.
The first step is giving old batteries a new life cycle. They can be reused in many ways:
- In other vehicles, such as forklifts and tugs
- As a battery for stationary energy storage
- Backup power supply
Before the process of recycling EV batteries starts, all the elements of the EV battery are broken into small pieces. The next step is grouping the materials, and there are three groups – plastic, ferrous materials, and non-ferrous materials.
All the valuable metals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel, are contained in the non-ferrous group of materials. They are recycled in a process called hydrometallurgical recycling. Recycling companies report around 95% of recycled materials in the process.
FAQs
Where Do the Components of Electric Vehicle Batteries Originate From?
They come from all around the world. Direct lithium extraction is being done in Argentina, Chile, and Australia. Cobalt is extracted in DR Congo, while nickel is found in China and Indonesia.
Is There Enough Lithium on the Planet to Power Electric Vehicles?
Lithium production is on the rise, but environmental problems caused by acquiring it are slowing its further development. Currently, it is not enough to fulfill all the needs, but by 2035. there should be enough mining capacity. A larger lithium yield is necessary if the need for the EV continues to rise.
What Is Contained Within a Tesla Battery?
Like all EV batteries, Tesla is also made of several battery packs of lithium and other materials we mentioned. It would be much more interesting to see what is inside them.
How Much Does an Electric Car Battery Cost?
The cost of an electric car battery depends on the model and manufacturer. Prices vary between $2,000 and $10,000.
Final Considerations
New technologies always bring new questions that need to be answered. EV cars brought a lot of good into the automotive industry, but there is a question about their batteries and how to improve them.
Batteries now have a lot of drawbacks, mostly because of their negative impact on the environment. Our next mission is to learn how to recycle and reuse them in the best way so that this new technology doesn’t stop with its development.
Electric cars are our passion, and we will continue to monitor all the news, and if you feel the same, stay with us!
