The US DOE has provided $44.8 million in financing for eight innovative projects to reduce the costs associated with recycling EV batteries.
This investment, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), intends to maintain a strong and sustainable domestic lithium-ion battery supply chain as the demand for EVs continues to develop. Recycling end-of-life batteries is crucial to reducing costs and increasing resource efficiency, as there are currently over four million EVs sold in the US.
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s historic investments in innovation and battery recycling efforts are helping the United States secure a robust domestic battery supply chain,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
“We can drastically reduce pollution and our reliance on foreign nations while also reducing costs and facilitating the transition to clean energy by reusing old batteries.”
Modifying EV battery recycling: Significant projects funded
The selected projects will further research and development into effective recycling methods and innovative applications for discarded EV batteries, overseen by DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office.
Building on $92 million in previous investments, the latest funding round supports US climate goals, including EVs making up half of all US auto sales by 2030.
Enhancing battery diagnosis
California-based ReJoule Incorporated will receive $6.32 million to develop a battery diagnostic system that can assess safety concerns, identify defects, and ensure system integrity in used batteries for electric vehicles.
Developing localized recycling solutions
Tennessee Technological University has received $4.87 million to create mobile preprocessing hubs that can shred and deconstruct EV batteries at local collecting sites. By streamlining the EV battery recycling process and reducing transportation-related costs, these centers are expected to expand recycling to more communities.
As DOE intensifies its efforts to build a robust battery recycling infrastructure, these initiatives are establishing the foundation for a sustainable future in clean energy and EV production, enhancing the nation’s position as a global leader in green energy solutions.
