The pace of transition from fossil fuel-based automotive engines to low- or zero-emission engines is accelerating due to steadily rising prices for petroleum products, the need to reduce harmful vehicle emissions, and the development of energy storage devices and energy consumption technologies.
Therefore, public concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions regulations are driving the automotive industry to reduce its carbon footprint and adopt batteries, which are increasingly experiencing significant price declines.
However, the short useful life of batteries and the possible scarcity of highly valuable minerals necessary for their production, such as Lithium and Cobalt, pose a great challenge to meet future demand from manufacturers and, at the same time, require to explore new recycling opportunities for its reuse, avoiding its elimination and ending up as toxic waste and very harmful to the environment.
At this brunch, which was held on April 22, 2022 IN PERSON, key trends, opportunities and challenges in the electric vehicle battery reuse and recycling industry were discussed, such as:
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Cost concerns: Fluctuations in the prices of materials for battery production;
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different battery designs and chemistry;
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collection and transport;
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and, environmental and technological concerns.