As more used batteries are taken out of service, the recyclers will put cheaper recycled lithium and other materials back into the manufacturing of new batteries. This will reduce the need for raw materials from mining. Eventually most of the raw materials will be from recycled batteries and the mining will be greatly reduced. Meanwhile the gas guzzlers will still be using more than 150 times as much raw materials, mostly fossil fuels, than the EVs use.
UK-based company Altilium has successfully recovered 97% of lithium and 99% of graphite from used batteries. Cradle to cradle renewables + storage is the future. 🌞
