Electric Vehicle Batteries: Repurposing for Second Life

This chapter discusses battery life cycle; from in-use degradation leading to the end of its first life, followed by a second life wherein it can be reused, repurposed, refurbished, and/or recycled. It discusses the safety concerns linked to second-life batteries (SLBs) and the liability conundrum that repurposing faces, along with industry standards that apply to battery repurposing facilities. The chapter also discusses the importance of diagnostic and prognostic techniques to enhance confidence in the utilization and performance of SLBs. It provides recommendations for policymakers, battery manufacturers, automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and SLB providers that can accelerate the proliferation of repurposed electric vehicle batteries. To ensure sustainability in sourcing retired batteries and bolstering a circular economy, the European Union has mandated batteries with a capacity larger than 2kWh to possess a Battery Passport starting 2026, which is an effective way of standardizing the battery industry.