These efforts are about to be given a big boost. Recent breakthroughs in recycling, together with a spate of technological improvements, mean that within a decade or so most of the global demand for raw materials to build new batteries could be met by recycling old ones.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are transforming the transportation landscape, but one major challenge remains: battery lifespan. Over time, EV batteries degrade, necessitating costly and environmentally damaging replacements.

New research shows that electric car batteries have a significantly longer lifespan than many previously feared. A study from the Canadian company Geotab reveals that modern electric vehicle batteries degrade 22 percent slower than older battery technologies.

In 2024, we performed a new analysis and the results indicate that EV batteries have improved significantly, degrading at 1.8 percent per year on average,” said the firm in t