The Regulatory Subcommittee of the NAATBatt Battery Recycling Committee chaired by Keith Loch (GM) has assembled this summary of International, United States and Canadian regulations for the handling of used automotive, industrial, consumer and stationary energy storage lithium batteries.
At the federal level, “As of July 2020, no U.S. federal policies directly address battery energy storage system decommissioning, or mandate or incentivize reuse/recovery of lithium-ion batteries.” (3) A Senate bill for LIB recycling was proposed in 2020 (4) and 2021.
A review of lithium-ion battery recycling: technologies, sustainability, and open issues. Batteries 10, 38 (2024). Wagner-Wenz, R. et al. Recycling routes of lithium-ion batteries: a critical review of the development status, the process performance, and life-cycle environmental impacts. MRS Energy Sustain. 10, 1–34 (2023).
Can liquid-cooled battery thermal management systems be used in future lithium-ion batteries?
Based on our comprehensive review, we have outlined the prospective applications of optimized liquid-cooled Battery Thermal Management Systems (BTMS) in future lithium-ion batteries. This encompasses advancements in cooling liquid selection, system design, and integration of novel materials and technologies.
While the law does not mandate battery recycling, in sections 40207 and 40208, it provides $60 million for research into battery recycling and $50 million for local governments and $15 million to retailers to fund battery recycling programs.
How can recycling reduce end-of-life lithium-ion batteries?
The rapid increase in lithium-ion battery (LIB) production has escalated the need for efficient recycling processes to manage the expected surge in end-of-life batteries. Recycling methods such as direct recycling could decrease recycling costs by 40% and lower the environmental impact of secondary pollution.
However, lithium-ion batteries are temperature-sensitive, and a battery thermal management system (BTMS) is an essential component of commercial lithium-ion battery energy storage systems. Liquid cooling, due to its high thermal conductivity, is widely used in battery thermal management systems.