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We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences This fact combined with the exponential growth in electric car sales will result in a vast amount of spent EV batteries requiring future waste management. Environmental concerns, and the significant personal health and safety risks associated with high-voltage electric batteries raises important questions regarding how the automotive sector can safely process this additional hazardous waste stream.
From RTÉ News Hot Mess podcast, should we allow mining for lithium for electric batteries along the Wicklow Way? Any process that does not alter the battery’s cell structure is considered pre-processing. This key step may include the deactivation and powering down of the vehicle’s high voltage electrical system before battery pack removal. Discharging the battery after removal, disassembly of battery management system and separation of packs structural components to facilitate recycling.
Manufacturers design their cars and allied high voltage technologies to operate safely. However extreme care is required when working on electric vehicles, as the high voltage risk is ever-present in the battery itself, even if the vehicle is powered down and the battery is disconnected.