Cracking the Code: A Smarter Way to Recycle EV Batteries

As electric vehicles become widespread, a major challenge is what happens to their batteries at the end of their lifespan. Current recycling methods, like shredding, are costly, inefficient, and waste valuable materials. MIT researchers may have discovered a breakthrough. Their new method uses an innovative organic solvent process that makes it much easier to disassemble batteries, simplifying and reducing the cost of recycling. With EV battery waste expected to increase rapidly in the coming years, this approach could turn recycling into a multi-billion-dollar industry within the next decade. In this episode, Ken discusses how these innovations are creating a circular battery economy, where old EV packs are not just discarded but repurposed for everything from new batteries to stationary energy storage—transforming an environmental challenge into a huge opportunity.