Sky-high gas prices are forcing more Americans to consider making the switch to an electric vehicle. And as EV demand goes up, automakers are under pressure to produce these vehicles as quickly and economically as possible. The higher costs of EVs have come down considerably with technology improvements, tax credits, and new battery technology. At some point, EVs should become less expensive than gas-powered vehicles. At Cornell University, scientists are partnering with the National Science Foundation to convert old EV batteries into storage units for renewable energy, reducing the carbon footprint of these units while helping solve a growing energy storage crisis on the nation’s electric grids. Tesla already partners with Redwood Materials to recycle waste and scrap battery material. And new EV battery technologies that reduce barriers to recyclability and the need for some rare metals are also being developed.
