The achieved percentage of reuse of discarded propulsion batteries from electric cars is 83%. In 2020 this was almost 70%. This increase is due to the fact that a larger share of the batteries became eligible for second use last year. The legal recycling requirement of at least 50% of the weight of the lithium-ion batteries has thus been amply met.

More electric cars also means more discarded propulsion batteries

The share of electric and hybrid cars is increasing. Car manufacturers and importers are obliged to take back the drive batteries at the end of the journey. In the Netherlands, a large number of car importers have placed this order with ARN (Auto Recycling Netherlands). ARN reports annually to the government on the number of batteries collected and their recycling performance.

In 2021, 127.537 kilograms of lithium-ion batteries were collected and recycled via ARN (121.020 kg in 2020). Almost half of this (59.465 kilograms) is 67% recycled via battery recycling companies. The remaining 68.072 kilograms are eligible for second-use applications, for example in the form of stationary energy storage. With this route, the batteries are 97% recycled. With a weighted average over both routes, the achieved percentage of reuse of discarded propulsion batteries from electric cars is 83%.