Biden's new surge of EV recycling funding

Furthering its climate goals and hoping to continue strengthening the nation's battery supply chain, the Biden administration has allotted $74 million to advance technologies and processes for the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries.

The number of EVs on the road since Biden moved into the Oval Office has tripled and the demand for critical battery minerals, such as lithium and graphite, is projected to increase by as much as 4,000% in the coming decades.

Building upon the $2.8 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden administration hopes this newest injection of capital being administered by the U.S. Department of Energy will continue to spur further advances in lithium-ion battery recycling toward the White House's goal of having EVs make up half of all vehicle sales in the U.S. by 2030.

"Recycling advanced batteries presents an enormous opportunity for America to support the creation of a secure and resilient domestic battery supply chain to reach our clean energy and transportation future," said Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. "The historic investments of President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are making it possible for cross-sector collaboration that will fuel America's technological breakthroughs and eliminate our overreliance on other nations to meet our clean energy goals."

A circular supply chain

From mineral-rich Nevada to Michigan, states on opposite sides of the emerging circular EV battery supply chain are poised to benefit from the White House's investment.

"Michigan is a global leader in automotive innovation and developing advanced technologies, thanks in part to work being done at institutions like Michigan Tech," said Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and chairman of the commerce subcommittee on surface transportation, maritime, freight, and ports. "This federal investment will help give Michigan Tech more resources to develop the technologies needed to recycle and reuse electric vehicle batteries and their materials – which will be absolutely critical to strengthening electric vehicle supply chains nationwide and the future of our automotive sector in Michigan."

With an automotive legacy to uphold, this new funding should help keep the car capital of the U.S. competitive amidst the EV battery fever.

Nevada, a battery materials hotspot that sits at the opposite end of the battery supply chain spectrum, is also grateful for the funding that will help it not only be a supplier of new battery materials but also a recycler of end-of-life EV batteries.

"I've been a steadfast advocate for Nevada's booming clean-energy industry, including our cutting-edge companies engaged in manufacturing and recycling batteries," said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). "I'm pleased that these grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I supported continue to come to the Silver State to support our innovative businesses and create jobs."

"Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Biden-Harris Administration is investing nearly $10 million in funding to recycle batteries and create jobs right here in Nevada," added Congressman Steven Horsford (D-NV-04). "This investment ensures that we are able to provide minerals and strengthen our national security."

With technologies to separate raw materials back out of batteries into fully capable new batteries with little loss between recycling, as a growing American hotspot for the raw materials coming out of the earth in the first place, it seems appropriate that this state covers the entire spectrum of minerals and metals from mines to EV batteries.

Retired EV batteries for every home

With how necessary advanced batteries are becoming for a clean energy economy, America is currently unable to produce enough of the critical minerals and battery materials needed to power it.

If unaddressed, the lack of domestic mining, processing, and recycling capacity will hinder clean energy and transportation development and adoption, leaving the nation dependent on unreliable foreign supply chains.

As part of one of the largest economies in the world, and a significant contributor to EVs and technology as a whole, California also expresses its enthusiasm for the grants.

"As we tackle the climate crisis and expedite the transition to electric vehicles, it is imperative that we strengthen the domestic battery supply chain and improve battery recycling," said Rep. Michael Levin (D-CA-49).

Projects funded will lead to second-use scale-up demonstrations that integrate end-of-life EV batteries into secondary applications, which include stationary energy storage systems, as well as projects that focus on advanced materials separation, scale-up, and reintegration of lithium-ion battery materials.

Possibly one of the most viable options for retired batteries is to set them up in semi-permanent locations that can keep the load off grids and provide a failsafe in case of blackouts.

Opting to reuse the batteries for energy storage could introduce an entirely new avenue for utilities and consumers alike, which is already being seen with the storage of electricity generated with home solar panels.

Smartville, an up-and-coming company that repurposes retired EV batteries into modular and standardized energy storage systems, is among the companies that are giving batteries a second life without the need for recycling.

"I am thrilled to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivering investments for a local business on the cutting edge of this important technology, and I look forward to seeing Smartville continue to grow and thrive," Levin added.

Ultimately, it is the hope that responsible and sustainable end-of-life recycling and reuse will strengthen domestic battery manufacturing to allow the nation to meet the increasing demand for EVs through American-made battery components.