Batteries
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Another secondary issue that can influence charging is the fact that
most EVs get some charge while driving, through the process of regenerative braking. For regenerative braking, instead of acting as an electric
motor, the motor works as a generator and converts the kinetic energy
of the vehicle’s motion into electrical energy that can charge the battery
(Young, et. al., 2013). The amount of energy recovered is dependent upon
the driving conditions. Outside of the car, the aerodynamic loss, friction
of the tires, and high speeds help to slow the car but do not create recoverable energy (Solberg, 2007).
Yet another secondary issue is the development of wireless charging, which
is already on the market for electric buses. Widespread wireless charging is
still in development, but Momentum Dynamics has a “200- kW wireless charging system” that they claim is more energy efficient than current plug- in
chargers (Lambert, 2018b).
6.5 Battery Disposal
After about seven to ten years, EV batteries can no longer effectively power
the vehicle and must be replaced (Gibson, 2018), leaving the question of what
to do with the old batteries. Today’s batteries contain toxic chemicals that
would be environmentally hazardous if they were to end up in landfills. On
the other hand, batteries contain valuable materials that could be recovered
and reused, minimizing the need to obtain new resources (Engel, 2016). For
these reasons, China and the European Union require EV owners to recycle
their batteries, and it is predicted that similar laws will be implemented soon
in the USA (Gibson, 2018). Fortunately, EV drivers today have the option to
reuse or recycle their used batteries.
There are many reasons why users should recycle their batteries. For one, the
sheer size and weight of an EV battery makes recycling an easier and more practical option than throwing them away (Field, 2018). Because a continuous goal
for EV batteries is to make them cheaper and lighter, they will likely decrease in
size, use less material, be less expensive, and be lighter when the time comes to
replace them. If an owner chooses to do so, they will almost certainly be able to
upgrade the properties of their car when getting a new battery.
It is also important to continue recycling because the recycling of lithiumion batteries can have a number of social, economic, and environmental
benefits (Nikolewski, 2018). To take one aspect, the recycling of lithium- ion
batteries could significantly decrease the need for new cobalt and simultaneously reduce the cost of batteries (Nikolewski, 2018). More than half the
world’s cobalt supply is contained within the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. This country has endured two civil wars and has also faced assertions
of using child labor to extract cobalt (Nikolewski, 2018).
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65
Another secondary issue that can influence charging is the fact that
most EVs get some charge while driving, through the process of regenerative braking. For regenerative braking, instead of acting as an electric
motor, the motor works as a generator and converts the kinetic energy
of the vehicle’s motion into electrical energy that can charge the battery
(Young, et. al., 2013). The amount of energy recovered is dependent upon
the driving conditions. Outside of the car, the aerodynamic loss, friction
of the tires, and high speeds help to slow the car but do not create recoverable energy (Solberg, 2007).
Yet another secondary issue is the development of wireless charging, which
is already on the market for electric buses. Widespread wireless charging is
still in development, but Momentum Dynamics has a “200- kW wireless charging system” that they claim is more energy efficient than current plug- in
chargers (Lambert, 2018b).
6.5 Battery Disposal
After about seven to ten years, EV batteries can no longer effectively power
the vehicle and must be replaced (Gibson, 2018), leaving the question of what
to do with the old batteries. Today’s batteries contain toxic chemicals that
would be environmentally hazardous if they were to end up in landfills. On
the other hand, batteries contain valuable materials that could be recovered
and reused, minimizing the need to obtain new resources (Engel, 2016). For
these reasons, China and the European Union require EV owners to recycle
their batteries, and it is predicted that similar laws will be implemented soon
in the USA (Gibson, 2018). Fortunately, EV drivers today have the option to
reuse or recycle their used batteries.
There are many reasons why users should recycle their batteries. For one, the
sheer size and weight of an EV battery makes recycling an easier and more practical option than throwing them away (Field, 2018). Because a continuous goal
for EV batteries is to make them cheaper and lighter, they will likely decrease in
size, use less material, be less expensive, and be lighter when the time comes to
replace them. If an owner chooses to do so, they will almost certainly be able to
upgrade the properties of their car when getting a new battery.
It is also important to continue recycling because the recycling of lithiumion batteries can have a number of social, economic, and environmental
benefits (Nikolewski, 2018). To take one aspect, the recycling of lithium- ion
batteries could significantly decrease the need for new cobalt and simultaneously reduce the cost of batteries (Nikolewski, 2018). More than half the
world’s cobalt supply is contained within the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. This country has endured two civil wars and has also faced assertions
of using child labor to extract cobalt (Nikolewski, 2018).