Electric vehicle batteries are not "endless" but start a new task
An analysis on Autoblog shows that even if car manufacturers declare the battery is degraded, it still holds about 70 - 80% of the original capacity.
According to research by the Union of Concerned Scientists (a US-based nonprofit organization for scientific advocacy), this capacity is in the "sweet spot" for home storage systems or for the grid.
If on the road, a set of batteries reduces the capacity to make the vehicle travel a shorter distance, then in fixed applications, this is not a problem at all. Power storage systems only require battery cells that can be charged and discharged stably, without requiring acceleration performance or high-intensity operation.
Many projects in Europe and the US have proven that old electric vehicle batteries can operate for many more years in their new role. Enel Energy Group is exploiting reusable batteries from LEAF vehicles to operate the power storage system in Melilla ( Spain), helping to stabilize the power grid for tens of thousands of people. Here, used electric vehicle batteries are considered "infrastructure assets", providing backup electricity and absorbing solar energy during the day, returning to the grid in the evening.
Academic reviews of second-life batteries show a similar trend. When leaving the vehicle, the battery still ensures effective energy storage, helping to increase the capacity of renewable energy exploitation and reduce pressure on the traditional grid system. The remaining value of batteries also helps increase the resale value of electric vehicles, because the battery set - even if no longer suitable for car operation - can continue to " kiem money" for many years to come.
When the battery is truly at the end of its life, a modern recycling process can recover more than 95% of important metals such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and Copper. Many large battery recycling enterprises such as Redwood Materials have brought recyclables back to the production chain, significantly reducing resource exploitation activities and keeping battery prices stable in the long term. That helps old batteries not become waste but become raw materials for new generations of batteries with better performance.
For electric vehicle users, this brings two advantages: Eliminate all user encroachment when the vehicle's battery is always reusable and does not become industrial waste as rumored. When selling the vehicle, the "shared" battery set still ensures its value and continues to operate in a new role, from household electricity storage to data center support.
Proactively standardize to anticipate battery life
In Vietnam, new electric vehicles have become popular in recent years, the average age of batteries is still young.
Associate Professor, Dr. Dam Hoang Phuc - Director of the Automotive Engineering Training Program, Hanoi University of Science and Technology - commented that Vietnam does not need to worry too much about the issue of handling old electric vehicle batteries in the current period, because the battery life cycle is still long and previous countries have proven safe handling capability. However, he emphasized that Vietnam needs to prepare a foundation of standards and regulations soon to proactively manage waste batteries in the future.
According to Mr. Phuc, it is necessary to soon issue a set of national technical standards on collection, storage, transportation and treatment of used batteries. The licensing and strict supervision of battery processing facilities also need to be strengthened to prevent floating collection.
Many experts also believe that Vietnam has a great opportunity to develop the battery recycling industry towards a circular economy. Investing in recycling technology from now on not only creates more strategic material supply but also helps reduce dependence on imports. In the future, when the number of electric vehicle batteries expires, the recycling and reusing sector could become a new economic sector, creating jobs and supporting Vietnam's green development strategy.
Old electric vehicle batteries, according to international experience, are not a burden. When properly managed, they become a resource that both supports renewable energy storage and reduces the cost of producing new batteries. With the electric vehicle market expanding rapidly, Vietnam needs to take the lead in this trend, ensuring transparent, safe battery treatment and bringing long-term economic and environmental value.
