ticular chemistry of the batteries. There are about half a dozen in use and more are being developed. The bits that can’t be recycled are mostly consumed as fuel in the furnaces that are used to melt down the metals, which include cobalt, copper, iron, nickel, manganese and, someday, lithium. According to industry press and statements made on company websites, the Kinsbursky Brothers’ Toxco operation appears to be the recycler most widely used by companies that sell hybrids and EVs in North America. Umicore is the European leader and is expanding in the U.S.

Each operation uses a proprietary system and both now are concerned mainly with recycling nickel- metal hydride batteries. But both companies also are handling small volumes of lithium-ion packs as they work with automakers to develop the best recycling processes.

Both companies get batteries from automakers and professional automotive recyclers. Battery packs typi- cally have a recycling-information sticker on them so automotive recycling facilities can get instructions for directing “end-of-life” batteries to the proper recycling operation. Recyclers however will have to ship the

LIBs as Class 9 hazardous material and employees who package them must have hazardous material training every 3 years. Once the LIBs are at the proper distribution point, the recyclers break down their con- stituent parts to salvage any wiring, electrical compo- nents and plastics that can be separately recycled.

Getting to a Profit

As EV batteries reach their end-of-life, professional automotive recyclers will need to recognize the intrin- sic value of the electric power sources, understand how to safely handle the EV batteries, and be aware of the different revenue streams for each end-of- life option. Armed with this knowledge the professional automotive recycler will be able to incorporate the specific market options for LIBs into their overall busi- ness plans.

Betsy Beckwith is ARA’s Director of Policy and External Affairs & E-CAR Center.

Sources for this article include Edmonds.com, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Mineta National Transit Research Consortium, Kinsbursky Brothers and various articles from industry press, including Waste Management Authority and Hybridcars.com.

March-April 2015 | Automotive Recycling 49