US university scientists to develop AI technology for recycling EV and vape batteries

Almost $2.3 million has been awarded to Lawre3nce Technological University (LTU) in Michigan to develop an AI tool for recycling ‘critical materials’ in batteries.

The AI tool, funded by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), helps recycle end-of-life batteries from products as big as an EV car and as small as a vape by detecting and removing materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt and reusing them.

“This project addresses a major national security concern as the United States imports most of our battery materials used for domestic battery cell production facilities from China and other parts of the world,” said Dan Radomski, CEO of Centrepolis Accelerator, the business assistance arm of LTU that supports physical product developers.

“It is critical that we secure end-of-life batteries and reprocess them in a cost-effective way to enable a local source of minerals that can be used again in Michigan and other domestic battery cell production operations,” he added.

A 2022 study found that the world would need to build 400 new mines by 2035 to meet EV and energy storage battery demand.

According to Radomski, most lithium-ion batteries have lithium, nickel, and cobalt, yet almost 90% of those minerals are mined and processed in China.

He added that the US only has one nickel mine. It’s estimated that the country would need 72 to meet requirements for domestic production of batteries.

In addition, Liz Browne, director of EGLE’s materials management division, said disposable vape pens that hold lithium-ion batteries are increasingly appearing in landfills.

She said that finding a way to recycle the elements inside is essential.

EGLE also awarded nearly $1.5 million to the University of Michigan for a plan to create a 500-kilowatt, grid-tired energy storage system by reusing old EV batteries. Over $700,000 also went to Michigan State University’s battery recycling project.