Batteries, lithium batteries in 8 years will be 9.2 million

In Italy, there is alarm over car-related batteries. This was launched by Interzero, a consulting firm and circular economy service group that also collects spent lithium batteries throughout the country. Considering the average lifespan of a lithium battery (8-10 years) in relation to the number of vehicles circulating in Italy that mount it, according to Interzero within 8 years there will be about 9.2 million batteries to dispose of in Italy. This is a high number, and one that becomes even more of a concern if we talk about the economic aspect: according to the report, 11.5 billion euros, at current cost, will be needed for disposal.

Interzero points out in the study that there are at least ten types of lithium batteries, each with its own peculiarities (and relative treatment price).

The largest lithium consumption is absorbed by the car market. In 2023, 1,287,827 cars will be registered in Italy equipped with a battery that will one day have to be disposed of. Not only cars, lithium batteries are needed for various electrified vehicles. By 2024, vehicles equipped with lithium-ion batteries are estimated as follows: 200,000 for pure electric cars, about 150,000 for plug-in hybrid cars, about 1.35 million for mild hybrid and full hybrid cars (of which 1 million for the former category), about 2 million for e-bikes and about 100,000 for electric scooters. The total number of vehicles is about 4.3 million by 2024.

The average weight of a lithium battery is around 250 kg: from 540 kg for the Tesla Model S battery to 40 kg for the Honda Insight. The treatment of lithium batteries would make it possible to recover quantities of cobalt, nickel, lithium, copper and aluminium that would no longer be extracted.

The new European regulation (2023/1542) includes an obligation to recycle batteries and prescribes incremental recycling rates for the individual battery materials. Specifically, the following targets are set for non-portable lithium batteries: 51% by 31 December 2028 and 61% by 31 December 2031 of specific collection for waste batteries for light transport vehicles; minimum levels of materials recovered from waste batteries of 50% for lithium by 2027 and 80% by 2031; recovery of 90% by 2027 for cobalt, copper, lead and nickel and 95% by 2031. "In Italy we are still at an embryonic stage," said Mario Bagna, CEO of Interzero, "but the change is beginning to be seen: until a few years ago the only way to do treatment was to leave the country, now in Italy there are the first solutions. I see a change of pace even if logistics for Italy remains a weak point'.