to either dispose of or recycle them at the end of their lives. And, thankfully, some options are currently being investigated to achieve just this. One example is to add molybdenum and sulfur to Liion batteries to produce cheap, very light batteries with almost twice the energy density of existing Li-ion batteries. Currently in development by the University of Texas, molybdenum and sulfur would be used to replace the lithium electrodes while still providing a viable battery unit. Other solutions include the use of sulfide electrodes to help extend the working life of Li-ion batteries too. Currently being investigated at the University of Florida, sulfide-Liion batteries should be able to extend the number of charge-discharge cycles with little to no degradation of the battery. 3. Try to find lithium sources in places that care about the environment Failing either to replace Li-ion batteries or finding ways to extend their functional lives, another alternative could be to find more sustain-
able sources of lithium. Whether this is opening up mining and refining operations in countries with strong environmental regulations, or searching for sources with a high bar to entry for extraction, this would go a long way to reducing the environmental impact of lithium battery production and, by extension, the EV industry in general. Seawater, for example, is a potential source of lithium, although it will require fairly sophisticated extraction methods. Refining the process to make it as cheap as evaporation pools is going to be a very real challenge. Other countries, like Portugal, are also pushing forward with finding ways to produce lithium domestically. But again, these all require the extraction and use of raw materials that have the potential to produce some form of pollution. This is where finding ways to use what we already have, with regards to lithium, might be the best option. After all, the damage to the environment from extraction has already been done. This would mean recycling old
batteries. Many landfills around the world are literally packed with spent electronic devices from laptops to old smartphones. Could these be “mined” instead of removing fresh lithium from the environment? And that is exactly what researchers at the University of Birmingham, UK are proposing. They are hoping to use robotics technology developed for the nuclear industry to safely dismantle potentially explosive Li-ion cells from EVs to extract the precious metals within. But that is really only half the story. Any battery that relies on electrochemistry, like Li-ion batteries, runs the risk of having its electrodes degrade and decay. You won’t necessarily know the condition of these
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Newest Black Book Index Barely Misses Another Record by Auto Remarketing Staff
So much for an extended reprieve from soaring wholesale prices. Black Book reported Sept. 7 its Used Vehicle Retention Index for August nearly hit a new record for the second time in the past three months. The August reading turned out to be the second-highest Black Book has recorded, as the index increased 3.9 points or 2.4% from July to come in at 165.7 points. Analysts noted the all-time high came in June at 166.0. Still the August index reading is 28.5% above where it was at the same time last year. “After a brief break in July, wholesale prices started to increase at the end of August as the industry came to the realization that the new inventory shortage will worsen in the fall,” Black Book Chief Data Science Officer Alex Yurchenko said in a news release. “Dealers accelerated the
acquisition of used inventory in anticipation of emptier new vehicle lots. “In addition to the chip shortage, Hurricane Ida flooded large portions of the Southeast and Northeast, potentially aggravating inventory problems. We anticipate prices to remain strong at least through October,” continued Yurchenko, who is one of the scores of experts and executives scheduled to appear during Used Car Week, which begins on Nov. 15 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. The Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index is calculated using Black Book’s published wholesale average value on 2- to 6-year-old used vehicles, as percent of original typically equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage and condition. To obtain a copy of the latest Black Book Wholesale Value Index, go to this website.
materials without opening up the battery. This has led some other researchers to look into alternative ways to recycle batteries and recover materials like lithium in a more predictable manner. They propose a biological recycling process that would use bacteria to process the waste metals, coupled with hydrometallurgical techniques which use solutions of chemicals in a similar way to how lithium is extracted in the first place. If successful, this kind of initiative could be a very real gamechanger for lithium and EV industries. So, in conclusion, are EVs really that “green” and sustainable for the planet? We will let you make up your own mind.
ltedesco@autobodynews.com www.autobodynews.com
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