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Electric vehicles once offered hope to end the world's dependence on fossil fuels and, by extension, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Energy Agency forecast that more than 1 in 5 cars sold worldwide in 2024 would be electric, with demand set to rise in the coming years.
However, the rise in demand for such vehicles has created its own issues related to sustainability in terms of new production and the disposal of older batteries.
Aerial view of brine ponds and processing areas of the lithium mine of the Chilean company SQM (Sociedad Quimica Minera) in the Atacama Desert, Chile, in September 2022. Photo: AFP
What type of batteries are being used?
The most common battery technology in use today is the lithium-ion battery that is typically found in mobile phones, laptops, scooters and electric vehicles - virtually all electronic devices.
Such batteries have a theoretical lifespan of around five to eight years, requiring users to replace them at that time.
As with other types of mining, lithium extraction causes significant environmental pollution.
A study on lithium battery pollution, archived by the US National Center for Biotechnology Information, reveals that lithium batteries contain large quantities of metals such as cobalt, copper and nickel, which may contaminate soil and water, and subsequently pose a risk to human health.
Lithium batteries may also release harmful gases such as sulfur dioxide during both production and disposal, adversely affecting air quality.
Opinions on recycling lithium-ion batteries vary.
Optimistic estimates suggest the recycling rate for lithium batteries worldwide had reached 59 percent as early as 2019.
However, more conservative viewpoints claim the actual figure stands at just 5 percent.
Photo: AFP / JULIEN DE ROSA
How is New Zealand's electric vehicle market tracking?
According to statistics from independent organization EV Database, more than 81,000 electric vehicles had been registered in New Zealand at the end of February, in addition to approximately 36,500 plug-in hybrids.
The fastest growth was observed between 2020 and 2023, with more than 10,000 electric vehicles added each year over that period.
This period also marked the expansion of Chinese manufacturers such as BYD and Chery.
Chinese brands now comprise 41.5 percent of New Zealand's market in the year ending March 2024.
The first registered Tesla appeared in NZ in 2012, but Tesla officially began domestic retail operations in 2017 and opened its first store in 2018.
As a result, the earliest models of electric vehicles that were available in New Zealand are now approaching the end of their battery lifespan.
A BBC report noted in 2022 that millions of electric vehicles worldwide will need their batteries replaced by the end of 2025.
That moment has arrived.
BYD's first car carrier 'BYD Explorer 1' waits for its load at Yantai Port, Shandong province, on July 5, 2024. Photo: CFOTO
What steps have other nations taken to address this issue?
A public-private initiative called the Global Battery Alliance was launched at the World Economic Forum in 2017, proposing to establish a "battery passport" framework.
Under this framework, every battery manufactured would be traceable from production through to end-of-life, including data on usage, performance and other key indicators.
The framework has been endorsed by the European Union.
According to the alliance's regulations, battery companies are obliged to consider end-of-life recycling and disposal during the design phase of their products, effectively making manufacturers responsible for the entire life cycle of the product.
It also means that Chinese electric vehicles that are exported to Europe could face significantly higher overall costs because their batteries might need to be returned to China once they are replaced.
Photo: Unsplash / Andrew Roberts
What disposal options are available in New Zealand?
New Zealand currently lacks a comprehensive system for dealing with end-of-life batteries for electric vehicle.
In November 2021, the Environment Ministry drafted a bill aimed at establishing legal product stewardship for waste tyres, large batteries and other electronic waste.
According to the ministry's projections, around 84,000 batteries for electric vehicles in New Zealand will reach the end of their life by 2030.
If these batteries are dumped in a landfill, the resulting heavy metal pollution could cause immeasurable damage.
The public consultation results on this legislative proposal were released on 12 March, showing that more than 80 percent of respondents supported including large batteries in a regulatory framework.
One key element under consideration in the framework is the introduction of a large battery stewardship fee.
While some suggestions have been made about who should collect the fee, there appears to be no clear plan on how the batteries will actually be processed.
As a result, some respondents have argued the fee is unnecessary.
The Battery Industry Group has been appointed by the government to study legislation for end-of-life battery regulation.
The group believes that EU policy trends typically influence other countries around the world.
As such, the group believes New Zealand should also consider adopting the battery passport framework to help manage the disposal of electric vehicle batteries at the end of their lives.
