ARA unveils Battery Material Use Hierarchy
Electrification of the automobile. Love it? Hate it? Don’t understand it? To an auto recycler, those questions don’t matter. It’s happening. At best, we as automotive recyclers can defend an advocate for the industry by better understanding the challenges and opportunities, and by getting other stakeholders to understand the role auto recyclers need to play in the electrification juggernaut.
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) has been instrumental in representing professional auto recyclers for over 80 years. The group’s advocacy work on various electric vehicle (EV) issues are a great example of the successes they have garnered.
ARA, in collaboration with the Argonne National Laboratory, has published the Battery Material Use Hierarchy that helps describe EV batteries in terms of their highest and best use. This Hierarchy highlights a preferred path of batteries after they have served their initial purpose, and perfectly describes the value inherent in these batteries.
By encouraging and incentivizing the reuse, reconditioning, remanufacturing and repurposing of batteries that have served their initial purpose, we can promote a transition to the battery electric power economy while reducing the carbon footprint associated with the manufacturing of the batteries. Each step in the hierarchy, from the most preferred out come to the least-preferred outcome, represents a retention of the greatest value and energy already invested in the original battery.
While the hierarchy is applicable to all battery types and chemistries, along with all materials and parts from every end-of-life vehicles, it is especially relevant today with the global focus on EVs, the environment, resource recovery and utilization, critical metals, and the circular economy. Auto recyclers play a crucial role in the safe and responsible management of all end-of-life vehicles, their parts and materials. And that will only continue with future vehicles–electric powertrains or otherwise. The Automotive Recyclers of Canada (ARC) support the Battery Material Use Hierarchy and applaud ARA for their role in its development.
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), in collaboration with the Argonne National Laboratory, has published the Battery Material Use Hierarchy that highlights a preferred path of batteries after they have served their initial purpose, and describes the value inherent in these batteries.
