Lithium-ion batteries last for 5-8 years before needing to be replaced (degrade to 80% capacity left), recycled or worse: into landfill, incinerated or composted. However, due to the high cost and technical difficulty in recycling, less than 1% of LiBs
get recycled in the EU and US (Journal
of the Indian Institute of Science, 2022). Meanwhile, second life use of Lithium-ion battery has a proven increase in safety concerns of fire hence many govts have banned it. Therefore, the short lifespan and recycling dilemma make people question the sustainability of using Lithium-ion batteries in terms of reaching our climate change target.
Lead-acid batteries have a very mature supply chain from mining to scrap metal refinement. However, most of the waste Lead-acid batteries in the UK have to be sold and shipped abroad increasing the carbon emission and the manufacturing dependence of the other countries.
We are here to use our innovation to change both.
