⚠️ ¡DESMONTO una BATERÍA de 100 kWh! ⚡ | ¿SON tan ECOLÓGICAS como nos VENDEN?

Summary

This video script delves into the technical intricacies of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, focusing on the non-replaceable, pyrotechnic fuse used to disconnect the battery in the event of an accident. The hosts dismantle an EV battery to showcase the pyrotechnic cartridge and discuss the challenges of conventional fuses in managing high currents in EVs. They explore the electronic management of these fuses, their importance for safety, and the lack of public technical data from manufacturers. The video also addresses the difficulty of recycling EV batteries, highlighting the environmental and practical challenges of battery disposal and the complexity of battery design that hampers repairability and recyclability. The discussion extends to the broader implications for EV technology, sustainability, and consumer rights, emphasizing the need for legislative action to ensure repairability and recycling.

Takeaways

• 😮Battery manufacturers are using more complex assembly methods and adhesives to make batteries harder to disassemble and repair
• 😡Manufacturers are not sharing battery component data sheets or repair procedures to restrict consumer rights to repair products they own
• 😠There is currently no regulation in Spain forcing manufacturers to make electric vehicles repairable for owners and repair shops
• 😤Manufacturers design systems to break when one small component fails, forcing consumers to pay very high replacement part costs
• 🤔Recycling lithium batteries requires tremendous energy input currently, needs process improvement for sustainability
• 🧐The main financial driver of lithium battery recycling today is recovering cobalt, not lithium or reducing waste
• 😌Electric truck feasibility is limited by high battery weight reducing cargo capacity limits
• ⏳Hydrogen fuel cell technology development has stalled recently due to high infrastructure costs
• 😕A future with only electric cars likely requires reducing private car ownership rates significantly
• 😊Vintage electric cars with modular replaceable battery packs were much easier for owners to repair

Q & A

What battery technology does the Mercedes EV use?

The Mercedes EV uses lithium-ion battery cells made by a Chinese manufacturer called KTL. The specific battery pack has 96 battery modules connected in series, with 3 modules in parallel, for a total capacity of 100kWh.

Why did they decide to disassemble the battery pack?

They disassembled it to analyze if the battery can have a second life after being removed from a crashed vehicle with only 8,000 km on it, as claimed by some manufacturers.

What did they find inside the battery pack?

Inside they found strong epoxy holding the battery modules together instead of thermal pads, which makes it extremely difficult to disassemble and repair. This was likely done to prevent recyclability and reparability.

What information is missing that would help work with these batteries?

Key technical specifications and test data on the battery cells from the manufacturer is missing. This type of battery data sheet (datasheet) is needed to properly design battery management systems and applications.

What happens during a thermal runaway event in lithium batteries?

A thermal runaway occurs when one battery cell fails, heats up, and causes neighboring cells to also fail in a chain reaction, resulting in fire or explosion. This is very difficult to stop once initiated.

How efficient is lithium battery recycling?

While 70-90% lithium recovery rates are claimed, the recycling process requires huge amounts of energy and also produces hazardous chemical byproducts. The most valuable metal is actually cobalt inside the cells.

What alternatives to lithium-ion EV batteries are discussed?

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are discussed as an alternative, but high pressure storage tanks make this dangerous. Infrastructure for producing and distributing hydrogen is also lacking.

Why can't you recharge an EV with solar panels on the roof?

A typical 70kWh EV battery would require over 20 square meters of solar panels in ideal conditions to fully recharge in a day, too large for installation on a car.

What upcoming legislation threatens the repair industry?

Proposed safety legislation in Europe that could forbid independent mechanics from repairing critical systems like steering and brakes, threatening the sustainability of repair businesses.

What options exist for recycling these batteries?

No company is willing to take these batteries for recycling, even for free. Proper recycling is not economically feasible or scaled up sufficiently to handle the growing lithium battery waste stream.