'Electric Vehicles Claimed to Be Eco-Friendly: A Closer Look Reveals Environmental Impact?'

Concerns are being raised that electric vehicles (EVs), which are designed with environmental sustainability in mind, could ironically contribute to environmental pollution. While EVs do not emit carbon dioxide during operation, the disposal of the batteries they use can cause significant environmental harm.

To address this issue, global efforts are being made to promote a circular economy through the recycling of used batteries. However, industry experts warn that the recycling process itself can lead to additional environmental pollution.

There are three main processes for recycling used batteries: physical treatment, hydrometallurgical (wet), and pyrometallurgical (dry) methods. While the physical process of crushing and grinding batteries poses minimal environmental risks, the wet and dry processes, which involve extracting individual raw materials, can result in air pollution due to fluorine compounds and toxic gases.

With EV batteries having an average lifespan of about 10 years, it is estimated that by 2040, there could be up to 40,000 end-of-life batteries. Therefore, it is both economically and environmentally preferable to maximize battery usage and prioritize reuse over recycling. This approach necessitates diagnostic equipment that can accurately assess the condition of batteries.

Onbridge is developing equipment capable of precisely diagnosing the safety and remaining performance of used batteries. This equipment evaluates battery performance by comprehensively inspecting electrical characteristics, chemical properties, manufacturer-specific traits, and operational data.
We are working on an all-in-one product that can test various characteristics with a single device. This equipment will assess battery health and degradation through ACIR and DCIR measurements. Additionally, it will enhance accuracy by analyzing chemical properties and manufacturer-specific battery characteristics, and it will predict battery lifespan using BMS data.

The CEO of Onbridge stated, "Managing end-of-life EV batteries poses significant challenges both environmentally and economically. We are committed to developing efficient and safe methods for battery diagnostics and evaluation."