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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Monday 18 February 2019

U.S. seeks ways to recycle lithium batteries in cars, phones

By TAMMY WEBBER batteries for recycling in
Associated Press the first place.
CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Melin said recycling also
government will lead an will become increasingly
ambitious effort to de- important as more compa-
velop technologies to re- nies use lithium-ion batteries
cycle lithium-ion batteries in products. Big companies
from electric vehicles, cell- might be able to source
phones and other sources enough raw materials, he
to ensure a reliable and af- said, but second-tier com-
fordable supply of metals panies may have to rely on
crucial to battery produc- recycled material.
tion in anticipation of soar- In 2018, about 100,000 met-
ing global demand and ric tons of lithium-ion bat-
potential shortages, De- teries were recycled glob-
partment of Energy officials ally, Melin said, adding that
said Friday. about 14,000 metric tons of
Calling the effort a na- cobalt was recovered from
tional security issue, the the batteries, or about one-
agency announced a $15 fifth of the market for the
million, three-year research metal.
and development project Spangenberger said the
housed at the Argonne Na- government wants to elimi-
tional Laboratory outside of In this July 27, 2018, file photo, workers transfer Lithium-ion batteries in a factory in Taizhou in east nate the risk for U.S. com-
Chicago. The collaboration China’s Jiangsu province. panies to spur domestic
between Argonne, Oak Associated Press battery production, other
Ridge National Laboratory, Efficiency and Renewable over the next 10 years, and supply from recycled ma- industries and jobs.
the National Renewable Energy. batteries from existing elec- terials, we would reduce “By end of this, we should
Energy Laboratory and sev- Lithium salts primarily are tric vehicles nearing the the risk.” be able show industry it’s
eral universities also is an extracted in a few South end of their useful lives, it’s But recycling raw materi- doable, (then) let’s scale
attempt to catch up with American and African time to figure out how to re- als won’t do the U.S. much up and get commercial-
China and other countries countries, as well as Aus- cycle them in the U.S, said good if it doesn’t also make ized,” he said.
that manufacture and re- tralia, and cobalt largely is Jeff Spangenberger, direc- the batteries and finished James Greenberger, exec-
cycle the vast majority of mined in the Democratic tor of the new recycling products here, experts said. utive director of NAATBatt,
lithium-ion batteries, includ- Republic of Congo, experts center, called the ReCell “There is no sense to re- a consortium of companies
ing those shipped back said. The U.S. has a strained Center. cycle in the U.S. and not promoting U.S. advanced-
from the U.S., officials said. trading relationship with The center will focus on de- be able to use (the mate- battery manufacturing,
U.S. dependence on other China, which produces a veloping a process to allow rial) in the U.S. ... Otherwise said it’s important that recy-
countries for metals such as large share of the batteries recovered material to be you have to sell to China cling is affordable enough
lithium, cobalt, nickel and and has been aggressively put directly back into new because that’s where they that manufacturers of cars
graphite, as well as finished recycling them to recover batteries without having make the batteries,” said and other products won’t
batteries, “undermines our metals it otherwise would to break it down into their Hans Eric Melin, a consul- have to pass the costs on
national security” because have to import. core components. tant at London-based Cir- to customers.
the source countries are But the demand for lithium- “We’ve done a lot of anal- cular Energy Storage who “Everybody’s waiting for
not always close allies, said ion batteries also is driving ysis ... and if we don’t recy- researches the lithium-ion a technological solution,”
Daniel R. Simmons, assistant the effort. With U.S. auto- cle, we will run out of mate- battery industry. He also said Greenberger. “But I
secretary of the Energy De- makers set to expand pro- rials,” Spangenberger said. said it’s important to figure think we can absolutely
partment’s Office of Energy duction of electric vehicles “(And) if we had a steady out how to collect enough catch up.”q

Infosys forms community college partnership in Rhode Island

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT employees to work with leges near the company’s
Associated Press Community College of other U.S. hubs in Hartford,
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island students. Connecticut, Indianapolis,
Technology company Info- College President Meghan Indiana and Raleigh, North
sys announced a new part- Hughes said students will Carolina, and near new
nership with a community explore ways to work with centers in Arizona and Tex-
college in Rhode Island to new technology, learn as. Parekh said the com-
develop workers for digital marketable skills and build pany is committed to work-
jobs on Tuesday, with the a professional network. She force development and
goal of forming similar ar- said Infosys understands wants to recruit students
rangements elsewhere in the talent that community from all walks of life. Info-
the country. college students represent sys already has a partner-
Infosys, an Indian digital de- and the role the schools ship with the Rhode Island
sign and technology com- can play. School of Design, one of
pany, formally launched its Infosys CEO Salil Parekh the world’s most prestigious
design and innovation cen- and Infosys President Ravi design schools. New de- Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, center, and Infosys CEO
ter in Providence. Compa- Kumar said they’d like to signers at Infosys complete Salil Parekh, holding scissors to her left, cut a ribbon to formally
ny executives said they’re eventually form partner- a strategic design program launch the company’s design and innovation center, Tuesday
dedicating a lab there for ships with community col- at the design school. q Feb. 12, 2019, in Providence, R.I. Associated Press