Video: Project successfully recycles heavy-duty lithium-ion electric bus batteries
S. Himmelstein | February 01, 2021A battery recycling pilot project has been successfully completed by bus manufacturers New Flyer Industries Canada ULC and New Flyer of America Inc. together with Li-Cycle Corporation, North America's largest lithium-ion battery recycler.
These batteries have traditionally been impractical to recycle, creating hazardous waste and the loss of valuable, finite materials. Many have been landfilled or partially recycled through pyro-metallurgical processes, which have only an average recovery rate of 40%.
End-of-life lithium-ion battery modules were successfully recycled. Source: Li-Cycle Corporation New Flyer supplied Li-Cycle with 45 end-of-life lithium-ion battery modules totaling 3,200 lb for processing into black mass, an industry term for a mixture of lithium, nickel, cobalt and copper. Technology developed by Li-Cycle processes black mass in order to produce critical, battery-grade materials from recycled sources, as well as other recycled materials that can be returned to the economy.
The closed loop lithium-ion battery resource recovery system yields minimal solid waste and zero liquid and air emissions for the sustainable production of battery-grade lithium, cobalt and nickel products. The process recovers 95% of all lithium-ion battery materials, extracting high-grade materials for battery reproduction at a cost lower than mined and refined material. The automated system accepts batteries in any state of charge and mechanically shreds them with no sorting, dismantling, discharging or thermal processing needed. The value-added end products are high-purity battery chemicals to be redirected to the lithium-ion battery supply chain and broader economy.