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Are electric car batteries bad for the environment?
I came across an article the other day about how batteries are hard to dispose of, and it made me think of the new electric cars coming out everywhere. Are those batteries the same, and will they affect the environment once electric cars become more popular and start wearing out?
Hannah DeWitt · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Fair question! More and more people have started asking themselves about the fates of
electric car
batteries. Unfortunately, the answer is more complicated than “yes” or “no.” The lithium batteries used in electric cars are a little safer and less toxic than traditional lead-acid batteries; however, the system for recycling them is still a bit unorganized.Lead-acid batteries are currently used in combustion cars, but some are used to supplement power in
electric cars
. There are legal requirements in place for recycling lead-acid batteries, meaning around 99% of the lead contained in the batteries does end up recycled. Lithium-ion batteries, more commonly used in electric cars, are a bit safer than lead-acid batteries, lasting closer to 10-20 years and containing less toxic materials. The U.S. has not mandated the recycling of these batteries, though, which could skew the effects they have on the environment later.
Thankfully, recycling lithium-ion batteries is becoming more popular. The process extracts the metals used in the batteries—copper, cobalt, nickel, and lithium—and sends them back to be used in new batteries.
Though the sustainability of car batteries still presents a challenge, people are working to make these batteries environmentally friendly.
If you’re thinking of switching to an electric car, let
Jerry
help you insure it. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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