Hey there, eco-warriors! 🌍 Ever wondered what's behind the buzz of electric vehicles (EVs) and gadgets lighting up our lives? It's all about batteries! And guess what? By 2030, global battery demand is set to skyrocket to a whopping 4400GWh! ⚡
From electric cars and e-bikes 🛴 to smartphones 📱 and even futuristic flying vehicles 🚁, batteries are the heart of our tech-driven world. Core materials like nickel-based, lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) cathodes are leading the charge (pun intended 😉).
But here's the twist: What happens to all those batteries when they're done powering our adventures? Enter the exciting world of battery recycling, aka \"city mines\"! 🏙️💎 Starting around 2025, recycling retired batteries is set to boom, fueled by the growing number of old EVs, supportive policies, and a hungry market for recycled materials.
After living their best life, batteries go through collection channels, which in the future will mostly be through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Think of it like a circle of life for batteries! ♻️
Next up is the disposal process. Some batteries get a second chance at life by being repackaged or used in less demanding applications. Others are recycled to recover precious metals like nickel and lithium—super important since these metals are getting pricier and harder to find. 💰🔋
For manufacturers, this recycling stage is a big deal. It's not just about being green; it's about securing the materials needed to keep making the products we love. So, battery recycling isn't just good for the planet—it's crucial for our tech-filled future! 🌟
So next time you plug in your device or hop on an electric scooter, remember the incredible journey of the battery inside it. And maybe, just maybe, you'll be part of the recycling revolution that's powering the next generation. 🚀
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
