
There are several benefits of switching to electric vehicles, but one of the main appeals for Corona drivers is their eco-friendly ride. By powering your sedan or SUV with electricity instead of gas, EV drivers output fewer emissions on their daily drives than those piloting models with combustion engines, reducing the amount of pollution in our atmosphere. But, there’s one concern many have about the expanding usage of electrified models: What happens to old electric car batteries?
Drivers worried about their overall environmental impact can rest assured knowing that EV car batteries don’t end up in landfills when they reach the end of their lifespan. Learn more about the current and future EV battery disposal industry and how your BMW EV will be recycled and repurposed with this guide from BMW of Murrieta!
EV batteries are considered to be at the end of their lifespan once they’ve degraded to 70%–75% of their original capacity or at about 10 years of regular usage. At this point, auto recyclers will take the EV and dismantle it entirely, stripping everything that can be recycled and repurposed. So, what happens to old electric car batteries at this stage? All types of EV batteries are stripped out of the vehicle and, depending on the auto recycler, sent to a specialized facility built for electric car battery recycling.
At these specialized battery facilities, EV batteries have all their parts disassembled and repurposed. The steel, aluminum, and copper inside the batteries will go into the nationwide recycling system, while the rare materials – lithium, cobalt, manganese, and nickel, to name a few – will be ground and purified for future use.
While the EV market is growing, the EV battery disposal industry is expanding alongside it. In the future, Riverside drivers can expect widespread adoption of two types of electric car battery recycling:
The world of EVs continues to grow, and BMW of Murrieta is here to keep you updated with the latest developments and innovations! Learn more about EVs and EV battery technology at our Research Hub, and then contact or visit us in Murrieta with any questions about the BMW electric vehicle lineup.