Session: 09-01: Photovoltaic & Electrochemical Technologies

Paper Number: 130031

130031 - An Overview of Electric Vehicle Battery 

Abstract: 

The electric vehicle (EV) market has witnessed significant growth and transformation over the past few years, driven by increasing environmental concerns, government incentives, and advancements in EV technology. The market sale went from approximately 1.262 million sales in 2017 to 10.522 million in 2022. As the EV market continues to grow, so does the concern over the environmental impact of electric vehicle batteries, especially their end-of-life disposal. In order to reduce the environmental impact of EVs, the formation of a circular economy through reuse and recycling of EV LIBs has been suggested and researched.

These batteries can be reused in a stationary second-life application where the demands on the battery are lower compared to the demands of EVs. However, understanding of battery aging is key to determining if a battery is suitable for second-life usage, and when it has reached EOL where disposal is the only option left for the cell. Currently, recycling is an area of concern to both government and industry. Challenges in EV battery recycling include the variety of battery chemistries, designs, and sizes, which make standardization difficult. Additionally, regulatory and safety concerns need to be addressed to facilitate safe recycling processes. Up to 40% of the environmental effect of LIB production comes from the mining of novel material used in the

 

 

 

 

manufacturing process. Causing a number of effects such as production of greenhouse gasses, water usage, and pollution of surrounding areas, they also result in an immense human cost. Child labor, pollution-associated diseases within populations, and birth defects have occurred in the process to mine these critical minerals.

This work is a review on the current status of EV batteries including the global market, recycling process, and environmental issues linked with this extremely fast-growing industry.

Currently, the global electric vehicle (EV) market is growing, from approximately 1.262 million sales in 2017 to approximately 10.522 million in 2022. As the number of EVs on the road increases, the number of used lithium ion batteries (LIBs) will also increase. As of right now, current practice for end of life (EOL) LIBs is to simply dispose of them into a landfill. In order to reduce the environmental impact of EVs, the formation of a circular economy through reuse and recycling of EV LIBs has been suggested and researched.

Current studies suggest that these batteries can be reused in a stationary second-life application where the demands on the battery are lower compared to the demands of EVs. However, understanding of battery aging is key to determining if a battery is suitable for second-life usage, and when it has reached EOL where disposal is the only option left for the cell.

Presenting Author: Maryam Shafahi California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Presenting Author Biography: Maryam Shafahi is a professor in Mechanical Engineering. Her field of research includes energy sustainability, recycling, water conservation and multiphase heat transfer.

Authors:

Aaron Mcglaughlin California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Timothy Sun California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Maryam Shafahi California State Polytechnic University, Pomona