24th Pacific Science Congress (PSC-24)

The rapid growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market presents a significant future challenge in managing end-of-life lithium-ion battery (LIB) packs, contributing to the critical issue of electronic waste. This presentation outlines a comprehensive and automated framework for the efficient recycling and reuse of spent EV battery packs. Moving beyond traditional manual disassembly, which is toxic, risky, and time consuming, the proposed system integrates robotics and intelligent processes. The methodology encompasses several key stages: the safe discharge and robotic dismantling of battery packs, fast screening of individual cells based on voltage and resistance, and in-depth performance testing. Data collected from these tests feeds into a clustering model to identify cells suitable for secondary applications, such as hybrid energy storage systems coupled with renewables.
For cells beyond reuse, the framework details subsequent mechanical separation and advanced chemical recycling processes, including hydrometallurgical and biometallurgical techniques. A review of relevant literature is presented, summarizing effective leaching agents and conditions for high recovery rates of valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese. The expected outputs of this paper include the development of an automated recycling system, software for predicting residual cell energy, and the recovery of valuable raw materials. A cost-benefit analysis underscores the dual advantage of this approach: it offers substantial economic revenue through material recovery and secondary battery applications while delivering significant long-term environmental benefits by reducing hazardous e-waste and conserving natural resources. This integrated automated strategy promises a sustainable and economically viable pathway for the circular economy of EV batteries.
 

recycling,battery,toxic,Industrial robotics