European plans to phase-out gasoline and diesel vehicles are putting pressure on recycling batteries. However, battery disassembly problems are putting the brakes on recovering their metals. The solution lies in designing batteries in ways that make them easier to tear down later. German website Informationdienst Wissenschaft published an update on the topic that we review here.
Growing Stockpiles Put Pressure on Battery Disassembly
Electric vehicle batteries last an average ten years. As the industry matures, more and more used batteries are adding to stockpiles. Since 2019, 12 German research partners have been examining ways to break down electrical components, including batteries without generating waste.
The team departed from the principal that batteries should be designed so they could be manually, or robotically disassembled, or repaired. They immediately faced the challenge that there are a variety of battery types, and none of them are designed with battery disassembly in mind. So they built a prototype battery which could easily be taken apart.
Key Factors When Breaking Down Batteries
There are several factors to take into account before disassembling batteries. They must be tested for any remaining capacity, and any signs of damage that could indicate the need for extra precautions.
The researchers continued their work by developing specialized, robotic tools they constructed in their laboratories. These helped them to automate the disassembly process of electric drive units, and EV batteries. They also devised auxiliary image-processing systems, that recognized screws and parts.
These technologies avoided having to manually teach robots what to do at each individual step. Additional sensors and 3D camera systems helped prevent collisions between robots and components, and generally facilitated battery disassembly.
These various initiatives will go forward to the next stage, where they can be trialed and further developed at a test center. This is a location that develops new forms of battery production, within the overall goal of fast-forwarding automated battery recycling.
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