Misinformation about electric vehicles (EVs) and EV charging is widespread. At Blink Charging, a big part of our mission is to help provide accurate information to current and future EV drivers, charging station site hosts, and the general public.
Below is a list of four of the most common myths and misconceptions about EV charging – and some key facts to help clear the air… and set the record straight.
Myth #1: “EV Batteries End Up in Landfills.”
EV batteries are not disposed of in landfills. Instead, they are recycled or repurposed for other uses.
This misconception stems from comparing EV batteries to nickel-cadmium batteries used in household items. Unlike those batteries, EV batteries are lithium-ion and significantly different from typical household or car batteries.
When an EV battery pack is no longer suitable for driving, it still retains a substantial amount of power. According to Dr. Hanjiro Ambrose from the University of California Davis, after 8 to 12 years of use, an EV battery pack can retain more than two-thirds of its power.
Reusing EV Batteries
Although old EV battery packs may not be suitable for vehicles due to degradation from rapid charging and discharging cycles, they can still be repurposed for various uses, such as:
EV batteries (with some refurbishment)
Stationary power storage for commercial use
Support for electricity grids
Renewable energy storage
Powering streetlights with solar power
Recycling EV Batteries
Even when an EV battery is fully depleted after its second life, it doesn’t end up in a landfill. Instead, it can be recycled.
Specialty EV battery recycling companies, such as Redwood Materials Inc. in Carson City, NV and Li-Cycle holdings Corp. in Toronto, have emerged. Redwood partners with Panasonic, a supplier for Tesla’s batteries, where Li-Cycle collaborates with General Motors.
In Europe, Groupe Renault collaborates with Veolia and Solvay to extract and purify battery metals from used EV batteries.
The Global Battery Alliance (GBA) also strives to ensure EV battery supply chains are sustainable and equitable. This alliance includes over 150 businesses, governments, academics, industry actors, and international and non-governmental organizations. Their mission is to ensure battery production supports green energy, safeguards human rights, and promotes health and environmental sustainability.
Myth #2: “The Electricity Grid Cannot Handle the Increased Demand from EV Charging.”
Some worry that if every vehicle on the road suddenly became an EV and every household installed an EV charging station today, the electrical grid would likely fail. However, the transition to EVs is gradual, providing ample time to upgrade the electrical infrastructure to keep pace with EV adoption.
Several studies have analyzed the gap between current and future power needs for electric vehicles.
A 2019 “Summary Report by U.S. DRIVE on EVs at scale and the U.S. Electric Power System” estimated that with medium to high Ev adoption, the U.S. would need to add 15 to 27 Terawatt hours annually by 2050.
E3, GridLab, and UC Berkeley’s 2021 report, “2035 2.0: Distribution Grid Cost Impacts Driven by Transportation Electrification,” finds that in a scenario where all light-duty vehicle sales are EVs by 2030, the coincident peak load will be 113 Gigawatts (0.113 TW) in 2035 and 167 GW (0.167 TW) in 2050.
PWC projects that the average total annual in the U.S. could increase from 24 TWh in 2023 to 468 TWh by 2040, an 1850% increase. However, this represents only 9% to 12% of the projected U.S. grid capacity, which is within current reserve margins.
This week, Rystad Energy forecasted that power consumption from transportation will increase from 18.3 TWh in 2023 to 131 TWh by 2030.
It’s important for us to remember: electrical grids are constantly maintained, repaired, and upgraded every year, regardless of EVs.
