End-of-life Management of Electric Vehicle Batteries

Abstract

Net-Zero aims have led to an increase in the market share of UK electric vehicles (EVs) to 20.4% in 2025 - up from 16.9% in 2024. It is estimated that by 2035, 150,000 tonnes of battery packs will reach end of life (EOL) annually that will need to be processed. Unless this waste flow is managed, many of the environmental gains of the transition to EVs will be lost. Government and the automotive industry should take a holistic approach to EOL EV battery management: focusing on regulations, producer responsibilities, financial incentives, infrastructure development, domestic processing capacity, research and development (R&D), and supply chain security. A comprehensive strategy is necessary to build a circular economy for batteries and avoid environmental damage from waste overflow and international shipping for processing.