General Motors announced the results of a pilot study in which it reused metals from end-of-life electric vehicle batteries in new battery cells. The company produced over 12 metric tons of cathode material by processing nickel, cobalt and manganese from 80 old batteries. Cells prepared with this material were used in some of the first GMC Sierra EV vehicles. The trial is a concrete step in terms of circular production of electric vehicle batteries; However, it does not mean that all mass production is carried out using this method.
According to the technical statement published by GM, the project was carried out together with the battery recycling company Cirba Solutions. In the study, used batteries were collected, the precious metals inside them were recovered and converted into cathode active material. The 100 percent ratio that GM emphasizes means that the nickel, cobalt and manganese used in this pilot study come from recycled sources.
Therefore, it would not be correct to say that the resulting cell or the entire automobile battery is made of 100 percent recycled materials. Cells also contain an anode, electrolyte, separator and other components. Moreover, the company did not disclose the total number of cells in the pilot or the cost of the study at commercial scale. This distinction is important to correctly interpret the large percentage in the title from the consumer’s perspective.
As electric vehicle sales increase, collecting old batteries and reusing the metals inside them becomes more important. Materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese can be used in new cell production; However, the energy consumption, transportation distance and efficiency of the recovery process determine the total environmental impact. GM’s announcement does not provide a comparative lifecycle accounting for all of these titles.
Recovered material went into new battery cells
The remarkable part of the pilot study is that the recovered metals do not remain only in the laboratory sample. GM transferred the cathode material produced with these to battery cells prepared by Ultium Cells. The cells subsequently appeared in early production GMC Sierra EV vehicles. Thus, it was shown that the chain extending from the old battery to the new vehicle could technically be established.
However, a trial of 80 batteries alone cannot meet the needs of a supply chain of millions of vehicles. The different chemistries, varying conditions, and collection infrastructure of scrap batteries can make large-scale implementation difficult. Manufacturers’ use of recycled material in new cells with consistent quality is also a process that needs to be verified.
The bottom line for the consumer should not be read as meaning that every Sierra EV purchased today carries recycled metals. GM states that the application was tested in some of the first vehicles; It does not detail which markets and production lines are covered. If the battery composition will influence the purchasing decision, it is necessary to request verified information from the manufacturer for the specific vehicle.
GM’s trial shows that electric vehicle batteries could gain a second life as a source of raw materials. The next decisive step will be to demonstrate how efficiently and economically recycling can be done on an industrial scale. For now, the result the company has announced is a limited but real production example of three recovered metals entering new cells.