As EVs get older, the batteries progressively degrade. It is expected that at around 75% of the battery’s original capacity, it has reached the end of its life in an EV. In reality what this means is that if the car was sold with 400 km driving range, at the end of its useful life it could be down to around 300 km.

Despite potentially no longer being as useful in an EV, at the end of life in a vehicle the batteries still store significant amounts of energy. As a result, several companies are already taking used EV batteries and converting them into stationary storage to power homes, buildings and the wider electricity grid. It’s expected these used EV batteries could last up to another 10 years for these use cases.

Once an EV battery has lost a significant proportion of its original energy capacity, it can then be recycled into materials used to build new batteries. The efficiency of this recycling process continues to improve, with the possibility of having almost a closed loop in the future where batteries are fully recycled and remanufactured into new batteries.

The European Union has set a target of recycling 70% of lithium-ion batteries by 2030. Similarly, the US has a number of policies to promote the recycling of end-of-life batteries. As the EV industry continues to grow, more policies around reuse and repurposing are likely to be established by governments to ensure the ongoing sustainability of EV batteries.

The post What happens to EV batteries at the end of their useful life in a vehicle? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

Importantly, Australia is home to many critical resources used in manufacturing EVs, including Iron, Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Phosphate and Copper. There is an important opportunity for Australia to accelerate the extraction and processing of these minerals to support the ethical and sustainable supply of these minerals globally.

It should also be noted that there is an increasing shift away from nickel and cobalt-based batteries for non-performance EVs, primarily lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. LFP EV batteries provide adequate driving range, but are less expensive to manufacture.

The post What is the EV industry doing in terms of material sourcing transparency and reporting? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

The regulation sets an average target of carbon emissions (per kilometre) for the fleet of new cars sold each year. Vehicles can be sold both below and above this target, but overall, need to meet the average or exceed it. Manufacturers who beat the target earn credits that can be sold to manufacturers that miss the target.

Each year this target reduces, and as a result, the regulation encourages manufacturers to introduce more efficient vehicles to ensure they meet the target each year, and minimise how many credits they may have to purchase from their competitors.

Unlike over 85% of the global car market, Australia does not currently have a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. As a result, Australia has become a dumping ground for some of the world’s most inefficient and polluting vehicles.

The Australian Government is currently developing a standard. If this standard is designed correctly, it will enable Australia to catch up to other markets like the US, and as a result, benefit from a significant increase in the supply of low and zero-emission vehicles, including EVs.

To find out more about the government’s development of a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard, go to: www.cleanercars.gov.au

You can also read more about the EVC’s public recommendations for a New Vehicle Efficiency Standard here, our detailed submission to the government here, plus independent research we commissioned on the potential benefits of a standard for Australia here.

The post What will a new vehicle efficiency standard mean for EV adoption? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

After around 15 years the battery will still function but may only have around 75% of its original capacity, meaning ~75% of the original driving range. While this is likely still suitable for many owners, at this stage there are likely other general components of the vehicle that may need replacement/refurbishment e.g. suspension, similar to a 15-year-old petrol or diesel vehicle. Some EV owners may choose to replace the battery, and other general components, to extend the life of the vehicle.

The exciting thing about EV batteries is that even after 15 years of use in a vehicle, they can be removed and find a “second-life” powering homes, buildings and the grid. This is because these batteries will still hold significant amounts of energy – enough to power several houses. It also means the EV owner will be able to sell these used EV batteries for use in other applications, helping to reduce the cost of a new battery for their EV, or the purchase of a new EV.

EV batteries are expected to last another 10 or so years in second-life applications, after which they can then be largely recycled, with the captured materials being used to manufacture brand-new batteries. Research is ongoing to maximise the recovery of materials from recycled batteries, but already well over 90% of recycled battery material can be used. Eventually, it is expected a closed loop will be established, as part of a circular economy, where the batteries can be fully recycled into new batteries and other components.

Given the small number of EVs currently on Australian roads and their long lifetimes, there is not currently a significant number of used batteries for second-life applications and/or recycling. As the local fleet increases, this economic development opportunity for our country will likely emerge. This is expected to take place during the mid to late 2030s.

The post What happens when a battery is no longer fit to power an EV? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

There are emissions associated with the making of any vehicle. Emissions from building EVs is generally higher than petrol and diesel vehicles, when including the battery. Despite not having a combustion engine and all the other related components, batteries are energy-intensive to produce. These processes continue to improve and these additional emissions are more than offset over the life of the vehicle.

Unlike petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles, EVs have zero exhaust emissions, and even when charged using the current electricity grid in Australia, produce fewer lifecycle emissions. The emissions from EVs sold today will continue to improve over their lifetime as more renewables are introduced to the electricity grid.

It’s also important to recognise that EV batteries can be used after their useful life in a vehicle (expected to be around 15 years). EV batteries can find a second life powering homes, buildings or even the grid, and are expected to last around another 10 years in these applications. After around 25 years in total, these batteries can then be recycled to create brand-new batteries, moving us closer to a circular economy.

Check out our Life Cycle Emissions Calculator Tool to compare emissions from different vehicles.

The post Are electric vehicles truly more environmentally-friendly than petrol or diesel-powered cars? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

Research shows that even if an EV is charged by our current electricity grid they produce lower lifecycle emissions than similar petrol or hybrid vehicles. Even more important, however, is that as the electricity grid becomes cleaner, EVs become cleaner too. It is an unavoidable truth that electric vehicles are a key technology for Australia to achieve its climate targets, including net zero.

EVs also have a nifty trick. While it is expected their batteries will be suitable for use in a vehicle for around 15 years (or equivalent in terms of total kilometres driven e.g. 180,000-200,000 km), after this time they still store a significant amount of energy. As such, these batteries can be repurposed to power homes, buildings and the electricity grid. This “second-life” could last another 10 years, before EV batteries can then be recycled, with the recovered material used to produce new batteries.

Given the small number of EVs currently on Australian roads and their long lifetimes, there is not currently a significant number of used batteries for second-life applications and/or recycling. As the local fleet increases, this economic development opportunity for our country will likely emerge. This is expected to take place during the mid to late 2030s.

Check out our Lifecycle Emissions Calculator tool to find out more.

The post Do EVs actually reduce emissions? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

When we look at the full lifecycle emissions of EVs, which accounts not only for the tailpipe emissions during their use, but also in the manufacturing of the vehicles, and the end-of-life recycling and disposal, on average EVs reduce emissions by around 40-50% compared to similar petrol/diesel models, and around 25% compared to hybrid vehicles. This can be increased further when EVs are primarily charged using renewable energy, however, even when charged using the existing grid, they still deliver a significant environmental benefit.

For more information, check out the International Council on Clean Transportation’s assessment of lifecycle emissions for electric vehicles here or try using the EVC’s lifecycle emissions calculator here.

The post Do electric vehicles help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

Many EV manufacturers are now also adopting battery chemistries that do not include minerals like cobalt, such as lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.

Australia is already a major supplied of lithium, nickel, copper and cobalt – all important minerals for the manufacturing of EVs. Our country is well placed to further expand supply of critical minerals to support EV manufacturing globally, in an ethically and environmentally-responsible manner.

The post Are there sustainability issues related to the mining of battery minerals? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.

The major challenge facing EV battery recycling today is the low volumes due to most EVs still being relatively new. Over the coming decade, as more EV batteries become available, there are significant economic opportunities for Australia both in second- life applications of these batteries, and recycling these batteries to be used in the manufacturing of new batteries.

Check out the work of one of our members, Envirostream, who offer mixed battery recycling in Australia.

The post Can EV batteries be recycled? first appeared on Electric Vehicle Council.