About 1.6 million tonnes of electric vehicle batteries will require recycling in Australia by 2050. The Battery Stewardship Council is calling for industry action to develop a pathway to battery stewardship.
Increasing the uptake of electric vehicles (EV) is a keystone to Australia reducing its road transport emissions.
Releasing Australia’s first National Electric Vehicle Strategy in April 2023, Chris Bowen, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, described the strategy as a framework to get more EVs on the road, and give Australians access to the benefits that come with them – cheaper to run and better for the climate.
Battery stewardship is a crucial element in the drive to increase EV uptake, as outlined in the strategy.
Libby Chaplin, Chief Executive Officer of the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), says while some companies have take-back schemes, the rapid increase in used EV batteries requires an industry wide national stewardship plan.
“The EV industry is facing a golden opportunity to take the lead in designing a scheme that is cost effective and fit for purpose,” she says.
“While many individual companies in the industry have committed to taking back used batteries for reuse, recycling and processing, long-term plans that apply industry-wide are needed. It’s the only way to develop the necessary infrastructure for a sustainable industry in time for this rapidly expanding waste stream.”
Electric vehicle uptake in Australia is lagging compared to other countries, accounting for 3.8 per cent of car sales nationally in 2022, according to the National Electric Vehicle Strategy.
However, research commissioned by the BSC in 2022 and conducted by the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney presents new insight into batteries being used in EVs and how many of those batteries will reach their end of life and require recycling.
The research, to be published in July 2023, considered the year-on-year growth of the number of end-of-life EV batteries in Australia and projections based on import data from 2021.
Preliminary findings show the number of used EV batteries entering the waste stream will grow exponentially to almost 30,000 tonnes by 2030, and 1.6 million tonnes by 2050. “It’s a massive uptake,” Libby says. “EV batteries present increasing risks and opportunities that the vehicle industry is yet to deal with at scale.
“Establishing robust stewardship takes time and we can learn from the experience of other schemes, such as B-cycle and from other industries about the importance of planning ahead. For example, we still don’t have a solution for solar panels and there are significant stockpiles of those around the country. We don’t want to be in that situation when EV batteries reach their end-of-life.
“It’s essential that this work starts now, while it is in its infancy, to explore and establish the infrastructure needed to recover precious resources and avoid the major property and public health issue of stockpiling and fires into the future.”
If incorrectly disposed of, EV batteries pose a fire risk and can cause environmental and health hazards if toxic materials leech.
But there is also potential to develop a circular economy and reduce reliance on fossil fuels – the plastic, aluminium, wires, and casings of EV batteries can be recycled, as well as the precious metals, such as lithium and copper.
The BSC has been commissioned by the Federal Government to lead industry consultation around the development of EV battery stewardship. In June, the EV industry contributed to a Discussion Paper, delivered in collaboration with the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA).
Consultation will continue throughout 2023, with industry feedback contributing to proposed First Options and Final Options Discussion Papers on EV battery stewardship. Libby urges industry to continue to prioritise the discussion of end-of-life processes.
“How the solution shapes up, depends very much on industry sitting around the table to identify the gaps and come up with innovative ideas for a scheme that delivers both for industry and the community.”
BSC has an established record on delivering battery stewardship for smaller batteries. In its first year of operation the scheme collected 1.9 million kilograms of batteries – equivalent to 81 million AA battery units.
Libby says learnings from the B-cycle scheme will play an important role in the conversation surrounding an EV stewardship. However, while there are similarities – the same battery recyclers are involved and the requirements around safety, compliance and traceability would transfer nicely – there are other requirements to consider, including the sale and collection channels.
She says a high degree of traceability brings a cost in administration that would need to be built into any scheme.
While battery chemistries in EV are similar, but on a larger scale, the dismantling process for EV batteries needs to be in a controlled environment because of the risk to workers. Economics and transport will also be different. Libby says there could be the opportunity to tap into reverse logistics with battery brands to make transport more cost effective.
“We’re just asking those questions that we don’t yet have answers for,” Libby says.
“It’s important the industry works together to really understand what the challenges are and how we might overcome those.”
Libby says the BSC also has a strong global network from which to draw experience. “With our International Advisory Panel, BSC has access to global best practice regarding EV battery stewardship and international stewardship models,” she says.
BSC will collate responses to the EV stewardship discussion paper and expects to host several workshops to allow further discussion around what direction industry wants to take.
“Whether there’s a whole of electric vehicle scheme that we work in partnership with or whether it’s a standalone scheme, those are the questions we want to explore,” Libby says. “We’re very open to what an EV Battery Stewardship Scheme could look like, but we see it as important to start working now and building up the necessary systems and infrastructure in advance of major stockpiles of EV batteries.
For more information, visit: www.bcycle.com.au
