Someone once said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”. This certainly holds true when realizing hybrid technology is only a step on the path to a more sustainable future. Proponents of hybrid vehicles tout their fuel efficiency and lowered emissions - a big improvement over their gas guzzling counterparts. Opponents, however, continually assert the question, “What are we going to do with all those batteries?” With well over a million hybrids on the road today, it’s a fair question. Battery recycling programs have kicked into high gear at major manufactures like Toyota, Honda and Tesla. Toyota recently released a statement that they have over 1 million Prii on the road today in the U.S. Being one of the first manufacturers of hybrid vehicles, they have been proactive in addressing the concerns regarding spent hybrid batteries. Toyota released a statement stating that “every part of the battery, from the precious metals to the plastic, plates, steel case and the wiring, is recycled.” Way to go Toyota!
Honda’s program currently collects the battery and transfers them to a recycler who follows the company’s prearranged process of disassembling, sorting, shredding and recovery.
Tesla Motor’s energy storage system(ESS) is composed mainly of lithium metal oxide and is manufactured in Japan requiring adherence to strict environmental laws. The company's website states that they may be able to reuse the ESS for other purposes such as off grid battery backup or as a load leveling device and extend its usefulness. This is a fantastic way to reuse the batteries in less demanding applications and extend its life cycle. Eventually the batteries will need to be recycled, a program that Tesla is actively developing.
There is an obvious need for improved technology as it relates to battery-powered vehicles. In fact, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has conducted a study on the impacts of batteries and the environment. They reviewed three major categories of batteries: lead acid, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium-ion (Li-Ion). The EDF found lead-acid batteries to be the worst. Batteries containing nickel metal hydride are a vast improvement over lead acid offering “twice the energy density and three times the life expectancy”. Lithium-ion batteries were by far the least harmful to the environment and offer higher power density, lower weight, and improved longevity over both lead acid and nickel metal hydride, though currently at a higher cost.
Hybrids are a step on the journey to a more sustainable future. They certainly have come a long way in the last decade. Fortunately, with increased consumer demand many car manufacturers have jumped into the hybrid market. This demand is driving even more innovation and improvements in battery technology. As a result, a vast majority of the batteries used in modern day hybrids are more recyclable than their lead-acid predecessors. Perhaps someday all of this research and development in the hybrid market will eventually create an even cleaner solution and just maybe there will be no need for batteries at all.
