A techno-economic analysis of end of life value chains for lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles

Electric vehicle batteries are characterised by a limited lifetime based on the steadily decreasing ability to fulfil the minimum capacity and power requirements for the automotive application. A lack of experience in end-of-life (EoL) value chains, associated interdependencies, and dynamic conditions pose a challenge to identify the monetary outcome and pursued way of the EoL-options. The aim of this paper is to develop a dynamic, parameter based EoL model which will help to analyse the economy of battery end-of-Iife value chains and estimate the according residual value of the battery. In conclusion, the introduced model based on a cost benefit and net present value approach is capable to close the research gap. For the assumed baseline scenario the survey shows, that all EoL strategies Recycling, Remanufacturing and Second-Life possess economic potential in Germany. Second-Life is already economically reasonable in 2016. The economy of Remanufacturing and Recycling is highly sensitive to the number of discarded batteries and Recycling will reach the break-even in the next 5 to 10 years. The model enables a variety of future parameter surveys which, for example, will be able to investigate the impact of battery parameters like evolved cell chemistries, etc., on the battery end-of-Iife value chains and the resulting expectable future residual value of the battery.