But in this case recycling is straightforward and incentivized enough that it happens in almost all cases. If the battery is still in working condition, it will be repurposed. Otherwise it will be broken down to get at the precious metals and used in a new battery production. Yes, this requires energy and materials are invariably lost, but it doesn’t get more ideal than a battery from a recycling perspective.
The primary materials in batteries, mostly metals, do not degrade like plastic. Metals are extensively recycled today, unlike plastic. Furthermore, each battery cell has a potential lifetime after EV usage as part of a stationary storage system, before any recycling.
"But very little recycling goes on today. In Australia, for example, only 2–3% of Li-ion batteries are collected and sent offshore for recycling, according to Naomi J. Boxall, an environmental scientist at Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The recycling rates in the European Union and the US—less than 5%—aren’t much higher."
Until and unless this recycling rate is provably 50% or higher at the time of an EV sale, you should not diss on a 50% loss of efficiency in electrolysis for an FCEV.
> only 2–3% of Li-ion batteries are collected and sent offshore for recycling,
> Until and unless this recycling rate is provably 50% or higher at the time of an EV sale, you should not diss on a 50% loss of efficiency in electrolysis for an FCEV
Most lithium ion batteries are still not used in car batteries but rather in phones, computers, cameras, power tools, and other personal electronics. Should we be running those on hydrogen instead?
The recycle rate of EVs out of commission is already very high (since the amount of money the battery is worth is high). But what you are asking for is a point where at least 50% of the EVs ever sold have been taken out of commission and are eligible for recycling, which isn't going to happen for a decade or so.