Are EV batteries made with child labor?
Child labor has been associated with small-scale mining for the mineral cobalt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because minerals from different mining operations are mixed together in the supply chain, it is very hard to separate out which batteries are made with ethically sourced minerals. To address this,[…]
Isn’t mining for the minerals in EV batteries bad for the environment?
Mining will continue with or without EVs. We extract minerals from the earth for thousands of everyday applications, like construction products (including glass, pavement, and wiring), steel manufacturing, electric motors, velcro, plastics, and even toothpaste. The transition to battery-powered vehicles creates an opportunity to take a close look at mining[…]
Can EV batteries be recycled?
Yes! Being able to recycle EV batteries is one of the coolest things about them. EV battery minerals can be recycled almost infinitely without losing power. According to Redwood Materials CEO J.B. Straubel, the metals in batteries don’t change or degrade, so the materials from old batteries can be made[…]
Will EV batteries end up in landfills?
No, though we need clear policies to guide our handling of batteries once they reach the end of their life in a vehicle. The energy stored in EV batteries is far too valuable to be discarded. At the end of their useful life as traction batteries (that’s a fancy term[…]
