ASPECTS RELATED TO CURRENT RECYCLING METHODS AND TRENDS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

Renewable energy, electric vehicles, personal electronics and hand tools all have in common: lithium-ion batteries. In the context of the circular economy, there is the issue of recycling and reusing batteries. Li-ion batteries can be recycled, but this process is expensive and, for now, the material recovery rate does not exceed 20%. However, research is progressing rapidly, and in the laboratory, scientists have managed to reach 80% recovery levels. In case of reuse, a Li-ion battery can reach approximately 10,000 charging and discharging cycles, which can mean a lifespan of several months in some devices or more than 15 years in the case of storage applications. energy. Therefore, used batteries can be tested for capacity assessment and reused in less demanding applications. Transitioning to a circular economy is not only vital to the preservation and protection of our planet’s natural resources, but also to the success of businesses. In Europe, electric vehicle manufacturers have successfully reused batteries used in various types of energy storage systems, from their use in small residential devices to supporting industrial solutions. © 2021, Cefin Publishing House. All rights reserved.