Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Market Forecasts to 2030 – Global Analysis By Battery Type (Lithium-ion Batteries, Sealed Lead Acid Batteries, Nickel-metal Hydride Batteries and Other Battery Types), Recycling Process (Hydrometallurgical Process, Pyrometallurgy Process and Physical/mechanical Process), Business Model, Battery Source, Material, Application, End User and by Geography
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Market is accounted for $11.14 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $40.11 billion by 2030 growing at a CAGR of 23.8% during the forecast period. Recycling the batteries from electric vehicles (EVs) is an essential part of sustainable transportation, helping to solve the environmental issues raised by the growing use of EVs. Effective recycling procedures are becoming more and more necessary in order to recover valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from spent batteries as the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) grows. Reusing these materials reduces the need for virgin resources and lessens the environmental impact of battery production.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric vehicle sales are projected to reach 30% of total global vehicle sales by 2030.
Market Dynamics:Driver:Growing interest in electric cars
Technology developments, government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and environmental awareness are all contributing to the global shift towards electric vehicles. The global EV market is predicted to expand rapidly in the near future, and projections indicate that EV sales may eventually make up a sizeable share of new car sales. This spike in demand causes the quantity of batteries in use to rise, and it also raises concerns about how these batteries are managed throughout their lifecycle. Additionally, effective recycling procedures are essential to managing waste and recovering valuable materials as more electric vehicles (EVs) approach the end of their life cycles.
Restraint:Complexity of battery composition and design
A range of materials, including plastics, aluminum, cobalt, nickel, and lithium, are used to make EV batteries. Each of these materials has unique characteristics and recycling needs. This complexity is increased by the fact that battery designs differ amongst manufacturers. For example, different brand batteries have different chemistries and configurations that make processing and disassembly more difficult. Due to this variability, safe and efficient disassembly requires specific tools and knowledge. Furthermore, these batteries are complicated, which raises labor costs and creates safety hazards when handling them because mishandled batteries can leak dangerous substances or catch fire.
Opportunity:Quick increase in the use of electric vehicles
The increasing global adoption of electric vehicles is driving up demand for battery recycling services. It is anticipated that the volume of end-of-life batteries will rise sharply as EV sales continue to rise, especially in regions like Asia-Pacific and Europe. According to a Niti Aayog report, for example, by 2030, 128 GWh of lithium-ion batteries will be available for recycling in India alone, with a large share coming from the EV segment. Moreover, the expanding market offers recyclers the chance to set up businesses that can effectively handle these batteries and extract valuable materials.
Threat:Rivalry with second-life apps
Even after they can no longer be used in automobiles, many used EV batteries still have a significant amount of capacity. Since these batteries are being used for energy storage solutions instead of being recycled right away, there is a growing market for second-life applications. The number of batteries that are immediately available for recycling decreases, even though this practice can lengthen the lifespan of battery components. Additionally, the urgency of investing in recycling infrastructure may decrease as businesses look for alternate uses for spent batteries.
Covid-19 ImpactDue to production line disruptions and widespread shutdowns in the automotive and recycling industries, the COVID-19 pandemic had a major effect on the market for recycled electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Strict travel bans and lockdowns during the pandemic caused a shortage of workers, which resulted in the closure of numerous recycling facilities. This exacerbated already-existing difficulties in managing battery waste by creating a backlog of exhausted batteries that could not be processed. Furthermore, reducing the market for new EVs and, as a result, limiting the amount of batteries entering the recycling stream was the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic, which also resulted in lower consumer spending on electric vehicles.
The Lithium segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period
The lithium segment holds the largest market share in the electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling industry. This is mostly because lithium is essential to lithium-ion batteries, which are the most popular kind of batteries used in EVs. With a market share of roughly 58.36% in 2022, lithium-ion batteries are expected to dominate the electric vehicle (EV) industry due to their high energy density, thermal stability, and efficiency. Moreover, the need for lithium recovery from used batteries has increased due to the growing global adoption of electric vehicles. Manufacturers are trying to lessen their reliance on newly mined resources and minimize supply chain risks related to sourcing lithium.
The Energy Storage Systems segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period
The energy storage systems segment is expected to have the highest CAGR in the market for recycled electric vehicle batteries. This is due to the growing need for sustainable energy solutions and the repurposing of used EV batteries for stationary storage applications. When the batteries in electric vehicles run out, they still have a lot of capacity left in them, which makes them good for second-life uses in energy storage systems—which are necessary to incorporate renewable energy sources into the grid. Additionally, the market for energy storage systems is anticipated to grow to a value of over USD 4.5 billion, driven by developments in battery technology and government incentives that support sustainability.
Region with largest share:The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to hold the largest share of the market for recycling electric vehicle batteries. This dominance is mostly due to the quick uptake of electric vehicles in important nations like South Korea, Japan, and China, which has led to a significant amount of used batteries that need to be recycled. The region gains from strict government regulations that promote sustainable practices and appropriate disposal techniques, as well as large investments in cutting-edge recycling technologies targeted at recovering valuable materials from spent batteries. Moreover, having a strong manufacturing ecosystem and a trained labor force improves the area's ability to create and execute efficient recycling systems.
Region with highest CAGR:The market for recycling batteries from electric vehicles is expected to grow significantly in the European region, with the highest CAGR. Strict laws and mandates designed to improve the region's capacity for battery recycling and sustainability are the driving forces behind this expansion. The area's dedication to a circular economy places a strong emphasis on waste minimization and resource efficiency, which has led to more funding being allocated to recycling infrastructure and technologies. Additionally, as electric vehicles become more and more popular throughout Europe, a significant amount of end-of-life batteries are produced, this calls for efficient recycling solutions.
Key players in the market
Some of the key players in Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling market include Umicore N.V., Tata Chemicals Limited, Duesenfeld GmbH, EnerSys, Fortum Corporation, Ace Green Recycling, Inc, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited., BatX Energies Pvt. Ltd., Glencore plc, Li-Cycle Holdings Corp., Andritz AG, Redwood Materials, Inc., Eco-Bat Technologies Ltd., Battery Solutions LLC, GEM Co., Ltd., Exxon Mobil Corp., Snam S.p.A. and Attero Recycling Pvt. Ltd.
Key Developments:In May 2024, EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bren-Tronics, Inc. in an all-cash transaction of $208 million. The purchase price represents approximately 8.7x Bren-Tronics’ adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months.
In February 2024, Tata Chemicals Ltd has announced collaboration with IITB-Monash Research Academy for pioneering research in the perovskite/clean energy domain. This strategic partnership is aimed at advancing sustainable energy transition solutions and fostering cutting-edge innovation in clean energy technologies.
In October 2023, Umicore and AESC, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance batteries for electric vehicles (EV) and energy storage systems, have signed a ten-year agreement whereby Umicore will supply high-nickel battery materials for the production of EV batteries at AESC’s US manufacturing facilities.
Battery Types Covered:
• Lithium-ion Batteries
• Sealed Lead Acid Batteries
• Nickel-metal Hydride Batteries
• Other Battery Types
Recycling Processes Covered:
• Hydrometallurgical Process
• Pyrometallurgy Process
• Physical/mechanical Process
Business Models Covered:
• Contractual Recycling Services
• Direct-to-Market Recycled Materials
Battery Sources Covered:
• Commercial Vehicles
• Passenger Cars
• E-scooters & Motorcycles
• E-bikes
Materials Covered:
• Graphite
• Nickel
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Manganese
• Lithium
• Aluminum
• Iron
• Plastics
• Other Materials
Applications Covered:
• Electric Cars
• Electric Buses
• Energy Storage Systems
• Other Applications
End Users Covered:
• Transportation
• Consumer Electronics
• Industrial
• Other End Users
Regions Covered:
• North America
US
Canada
Mexico
• Europe
Germany
UK
Italy
France
Spain
Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
Japan
China
India
Australia
New Zealand
South Korea
Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
Argentina
Brazil
Chile
Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE
Qatar
South Africa
Rest of Middle East & Africa
What our report offers:Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
Covers Market data for the years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2026, and 2030
Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements