Lux Research, after investigating second-life EV batteries, states that recycling cells from today's first generation batteries is a better choice than actually reusing them in energy storage systems. The surprising thesis undermines an appealing idea, because the economics of reusing don’t make sense says Lux Research's report - Reuse or Recycle: The Billion-Dollar Battery Question. A second life for used batteries Lux Research states that recycling is likely to be the more attractive option for the up to ~65 GWh of second-life batteries that are poised to enter the market in 2035. On one hand the pricing of new lithium-ion batteries continues to fall, while the older batteries needs to be repacked and tested before reuse - and even then, they potentially have lower efficiency and a shallower dept of discharge. Green Car Congress makes the following comparison and observations: "An oversized 11.2 kWh residential system from second-life batteries will cost just over $4,600, compared with nearly $6,000 for a new 7 kWh system. However, reduced round-trip efficiency and cycle life make residential units and other daily cycling applications a poor fit compared to some others." "Lux Research analysts evaluated the technology landscape for recycling batteries and identified potential applications for second-life batteries. Among their findings: Christopher Robinson, Lux Research Associate and lead author of the report said: “With present technology, recycling old batteries for new materials is the more economical option for creating the most value from existing materials.” “That said, innovations in areas like packaging and testing could tip the balance in the future, so companies should have plans for both recycling and reuse,”
Technology research company Lux Research has found that recycling EV batteries is more efficient than reusing the devices in energy storage systems. The firm recommends recycling the 65 GWh of first-life batteries due to come to market in 2035, despite the fact that new lithium-ion battery prices are decreasing and older batteries require repacking and retesting before use. Recycling processes such as pyrometallurgical processing, mechanical processing and hydrometallurgical processing can lower costs. Several automakers including Tesla, BMW and Nissan are backing battery reuse.