Beyond the End of the Road How Spiers New Technology recycles and repurposes 'spent' EV batteries by JoMarie Ramsey
A If every battery that was no longer suitable for vehicle use was discarded immediately, we would be missing out on a massive opportunity for continued utility. — Ty l e r H e l p s
t the heart of modern electric vehicles (EV) are lithium-ion batteries. But what happens when they've outlived their initial use? Spiers New Technology, recently acquired by Cox Automotive EV Battery Solutions, is a trailblazing recycling facility located right here in Norman/Oklahoma/South Oklahoma City, and it's at the forefront of answering that question. “It's a common misperception that once an EV battery's life ends, it's useless,” said Tyler Helps, director of business development at Spiers. “Our mission is to extend the economic life of these battery packs. They make up about 40% of an EV's cost, and it's essential for the vehicle's residual value.” Over the past two years, electric vehicles have rapidly gained popularity, and their availability in the market has increased from 2% to 5% of all cars, Helps said. However, the rise in popularity of EVs has raised questions about its viability and posed challenges. The commitment to the entire EV battery life cycle is at the heart of Spiers New Technology's mission. Unlike conventional vehicles that run on fossil fuels, EVs rely on massive lithium-ion batteries. While these batteries have a substantial first lifespan, they don’t last forever, Helps said. If improperly handled, these batteries pose environmental hazards. Spiers, however, offers a comprehensive solution that tackles this issue head-on. Their cutting-edge process involves recycling, storage and logistics management, focusing on extending the first life of EV batteries. “There’s a phrase, reduce, reuse, recycle, that often gets used around sustainability projects, and that’s what we’re doing here,” Helps said. “Once an EV battery has failed, companies send us the batteries. If the battery is viable, we repair it so it can be reused in another vehicle.”
REUSE
Once their efficiency drops below a certain point for vehicular use, employees at Spiers extend their first life, maximizing the use of these batteries before they're considered for recycling. The recycling and repurposing process is thorough. A battery first undergoes rigorous tests. If it passes, it’s primed for reuse in another vehicle, Helps said.
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Oklahoma Electric Co-op News • November 2023
