The surge in electric vehicle demand has sparked a boom in the battery metals industry. Battery metals pose a serious environmental and health hazard if not handled properly. Recycling old batteries is a growing challenge facing the industry. With the surge in demand for electric vehicles, the need for EV batteries and battery metals such as cobalt and lithium has risen dramatically. However, can the US (along with other nations) keep up with this rising battery metal demand while maintaining recycling efficiency? It’s a good question, but it doesn’t have a simple answer. Battery Metals Pose a Serious Health Hazard if Not Handled Properly Lithium-ion batteries are used in most electric vehicles. As the name implies, these are derived from metals like lithium and cobalt. According to the EPA, lithium-ion batteries are a severe fire hazard if not recycled properly. Prolonged exposure to metals like cobalt , on the […]