Largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant in North America coming to Covington (Atlanta: living, costs)

[Born 2 Roll]

The largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant in North America will be built in Covington.

Lithium-ion battery recycling and engineered materials startup Battery Resourcers announced they will open their first commercial-scale battery recycling plant in the Covington area.

Gov. Brian Kemp’s office announced Wednesday morning that Battery Resourcers will invest $43 million to build what will be the largest battery recycling plant in North America and create 150 jobs when the plant opens in August of this year.

When it is finished, the company said their facility will have the ability to process 30,000 metric tons of discarded lithium-ion batteries and scrap the equivalent of 70,000 vehicle batteries per year. The company added that their recycling process will allow them to return battery grade lithium, cobalt and nickel into the battery supply chain quickly.

The company said once they recycle those materials, they are able to sell them back to battery manufacturers.

Covington to get largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant in North America (WSB-TV Atlanta)

[ShenardL]

SK, Rivian, and this... lots of battery/EV infrastructure being built up here.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by ShenardL

SK, Rivian, and this... lots of battery/EV infrastructure being built up here.

Yep.

There doesn’t seem to have been much local disagreement or pushback against the new SK plant in Jackson County where local leaders are actively chasing and courting these large industrial commercial developments to locate along a fast-growing corridor along I-85 northeast of Atlanta.

But there does seem to be a noticeable amount of local dissent against this new battery recycling plant in Covington and the Rivian electric vehicle plant in Social Circle.

Many local residents seem to be concerned that both the battery recycling plant in Covington and the Rivian electric vehicle plant in Social Circle might bring more outsiders in from places like California and will increase living costs and change the character of the area from exurban to suburban.

Some residents in Covington also seem to be concerned about the potential adverse environmental effects of having a battery recycling plant in their area.

[beach43ofus]

What are the environmental impacts of that?

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

What are the environmental impacts of that?

I personally don’t know what, if any lingering impacts to the environment there may be from that type of facility, but some local residents seem to be concerned that the facility could lead to a considerable amount of chemicals ending up in the ground and/or in the air.

[Born 2 Roll]

Originally Posted by beach43ofus

What are the environmental impacts of that?

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

I personally don’t know what, if any lingering impacts to the environment there may be from that type of facility, but some local residents seem to be concerned that the facility could lead to a considerable amount of chemicals ending up in the ground and/or in the air.

There also seems to have been some noticeable concerns raised about the possible environmental impacts of electric vehicle battery recycling operations...

Lithium-ion batteries are bulkier and take more space than their traditional counterpart, lead-acid batteries. To make matters worse, they’re highly flammable and even explosive if dismantled incorrectly.

In the next 10 to 15 years, there will be millions of end-of-life electric cars worldwide; by that time, recycling plants need to be ready not only to take in all those batteries, reclaim valuable parts and metals, but also to properly dispose of the waste. Sadly, not much is being done on that front: Currently, only 5% of all Li-ion batteries are being recycled.

If no action is taken, battery waste could become a big problem not only for the car industry, but also for the environment.

Opinion: Electric vehicles certainly are dirty — their battery packs are poised to be one of the biggest new sources of pollution - The industry crucially needs regulation over recycling (Market Watch)

Electric cars have a dirty little recycling problem — batteries (National Observer)

[beach43ofus]

Aha! Just as I suspected, the car battery recycling process is riddled with environmental discharge (pardon the pun) concerns.

Maybe these plants should be in West Virgina where the toxic stuff can be burried deep inside closed coal mine shafts beneath the aquafurs.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Born 2 Roll

But there does seem to be a noticeable amount of local dissent against this new battery recycling plant in Covington and the Rivian electric vehicle plant in Social Circle.

Two words: Traffic.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by arjay57

Two words: Traffic.

That’s actually only one word

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by Need4Camaro

That’s actually only one word

Well, that's true.