Bolt recall - What happens to the batteries?

[JeffKeryk]

Chevy is recalling the 2017 - 2019 Bolts to replace all of the lithium ion battery modules. Maybe 70K cars?
I am not sure what this really means, but I was wondering what is likely to happen to the recalled battery components.
I guess they are recommending not parking your car in the garage... Not good!
Is this an environmental problem? I did a little research but found nothing.
Perhaps @OVERKILL has some insight...

 

[Trav]

With the Chicoms buying up as many mineral rights as they get I get the feeling they will be the ones producing or at least providing the materials for battery production and all the US and Europe is going to get is stuck with the waste.

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/lithium-batteries-environment-impact

 

[TeamZero]

They would probably go back to GM? I know on the Pacifica ones there is a huge core charge on them.

 

[earlyre]

hopefully they'll get "recycled". there's a known defect in those packs, that can catch fire when they're charging.
they're not so much asking you not to park it in doors, just not to charge it indoors. that way if/when it does go up, it doesn't take your house with it....

with any luck, they'll go to a place like this:

 

[ecotourist]

I agree with @earlyre. They must be a very rich source of rare materials. Valuable even.

I hope the get recycled.

 

[Rmay635703]

I’m hoping they end up on battery hookup again

Was a very cheap source of big batteries for antique evs

 

[dishdude]

LG is going to have a few bad quarters.

 

[OVERKILL]

Chevy is recalling the 2017 - 2019 Bolts to replace all of the lithium ion battery modules. Maybe 70K cars?
I am not sure what this really means, but I was wondering what is likely to happen to the recalled battery components.
I guess they are recommending not parking your car in the garage... Not good!
Is this an environmental problem? I did a little research but found nothing.
Perhaps @OVERKILL has some insight...

Hopefully LG takes them back and recycles them, otherwise, just like with other waste, like wind turbine blades and solar panels, both of which can be recycled but aren't, it'll end up as landfill material, typically in some third world nation.

 

[thastinger]

I agree with @earlyre. They must be a very rich source of rare materials. Valuable even.

I hope the get recycled.

Not unless you have a bi-polar mental disorder, that is about all Li is useful for.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Hopefully LG takes them back and recycles them, otherwise, just like with other waste, like wind turbine blades and solar panels, both of which can be recycled but aren't, it'll end up as landfill material, typically in some third world nation.

I guess I was wondering, based on the problem, can the materials be reused or repurposed? Or are they junk?
My battery subject matter knowledge approaches zero...

 

[thastinger]

I guess I was wondering, based on the problem, can the materials be reused or repurposed? Or are they junk?
My battery subject matter knowledge approaches zero...

98% junk, some older battery technology can be recycled but no battery can ever be anything close to 100% recycled.
The majority of the EV batteries, power walls, scooters, bikes etc. are made from 26650 or 18650 LiFePo battery cells, these use a wrapped film chemistry (why they have the round shape), it is actually illegal to place them in a recycle bin as they are considered hazardous waste. Once dead, the EV battery will release additional hydrocarbon pollution via the "recycle" process, which consists mainly of the diesel emissions the cargo ship burns while transporting them out to sea to be dumped or to a 3rd world country to be buried by diesel burning dozers.

 

[OVERKILL]

I guess I was wondering, based on the problem, can the materials be reused or repurposed? Or are they junk?
My battery subject matter knowledge approaches zero...

If the cells are prone to catching fire, no, reuse wouldn't be an option, nor would repurposing. They'd hopefully be broken down and have the valuable constituents extracted and the rest disposed of, but as I mentioned, unless that's financially lucrative, it is unlikely to happen.

 

[PandaBear]

The most likely economic outcome is to use them as stationary outdoor power storage away from urban center. Slow charge and discharge rate, near free price.

 

[PandaBear]

If the cells are prone to catching fire, no, reuse wouldn't be an option, nor would repurposing. They'd hopefully be broken down and have the valuable constituents extracted and the rest disposed of, but as I mentioned, unless that's financially lucrative, it is unlikely to happen.

Even at lower rate of charge and discharge?

 

[OVERKILL]

Even at lower rate of charge and discharge?

From what I recall, these cells are improperly assembled and actually short-out internally. According to GM, it's a manufacturing defect.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said last week that the battery cell packs in the 2017-2019 Bolt EVs “have the potential to smoke and ignite internally.”

 

[Passport1]

$1 billion jolt to the Bolt.

EVs are to cars what the Hindenburg was to aviation.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

From what I recall, these cells are improperly assembled and actually short-out internally. According to GM, it's a manufacturing defect.

I posted a photo 2 weeks ago about this which drew little attention. It happens to be of a Bolt cell.

 

[Hermann]

Around 4 PM CDT there was another recall on the Bolt batteries.

 

[Rmay635703]

Around 4 PM CDT there was another recall on the Bolt batteries.

Every time there is another Bolt Recall the used ones get more expensive (Bolt pictured did not have a battery replacement)

This Bolt March 2020 would be a $14,000 car

 

[Rmay635703]

Disappointed I didn’t buy this one