What happens when your electric car dies?
Electric vehicles are steadily gaining ground on UK roads, with sales up 21.4% in 2024 from 2023, as more drivers make the switch from petrol and diesel. But as battery-powered cars become mainstream, a question many haven’t considered is starting to surface: what happens when an EV reaches the end of its useful life?
The answer isn’t as straightforward as scrapping a traditional car. William Fletcher MBE, CEO of Car.co.uk, an automotive platform specialising in vehicle services including scrap car disposal, explains that EVs present unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to end-of-life processing.
The disposal of electric vehicles is completely different from what we’ve been used to with conventional cars. While a standard car might have some recyclable metals and parts, EVs contain high-value materials that require specialised handling but offer much greater recovery potential.
Fletcher’s company has handled thousands of vehicle disposals across the UK, giving him unique insight into how the automotive recycling industry is adapting to accommodate these newer technologies.
The battery challenge
The most significant difference between scrapping an EV and a conventional car lies in the battery pack. These large lithium-ion units can weigh several hundred kilograms and contain valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements.
The battery is both the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity. These aren’t like the small lead-acid batteries in petrol cars that we’ve been recycling for decades. EV batteries require completely different facilities and processes.
Unlike traditional car batteries, EV battery packs must be carefully dismantled to prevent fire hazards and toxic exposure. The process typically involves draining any remaining charge, removing the battery from the vehicle, and then breaking it down into its component materials.
Recycling recovery rates
Modern EV battery recycling can recover up to 95% of the materials inside, though the industry is still scaling up to meet growing demand. The recovered lithium, cobalt, and nickel can be refined and used in new batteries, creating a circular economy that reduces the need for fresh mining.
What surprises a lot of people is how much value these old batteries hold. The materials inside a single EV battery pack can be worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds when properly processed.
Beyond the battery
While the battery gets most attention, the rest of an EV also requires different handling compared to conventional vehicles. Electric motors contain rare earth magnets that are valuable for recycling, and the electronic control systems have precious metals that can be recovered.
The vehicle body and chassis, however, follow similar recycling paths to traditional cars, with steel, aluminium, and plastics being processed through established automotive recycling networks.
Current infrastructure
The UK currently has limited specialised EV recycling facilities, with most end-of-life EVs being processed at a handful of dedicated centres. This creates logistical challenges and higher costs compared to conventional car disposal.
Right now, we’re in a transition period where the infrastructure is still catching up with the technology. But investment is pouring into this sector because everyone knows the volume of EVs needing disposal will grow exponentially over the next decade.
A recycling revolution
The automotive industry is facing a recycling revolution, and most people don’t realise how different EV disposal will be from what we’re used to. While conventional cars might yield a few hundred pounds in scrap value, a well-maintained EV battery alone could be worth significantly more due to the precious materials inside.
What’s particularly interesting is that in a lot of cases, EV batteries that are no longer suitable for cars still have 70-80% of their capacity remaining. These can be repurposed for stationary energy storage systems, giving them a second life before they eventually need full recycling.
The challenge for the industry right now is building the infrastructure to handle the volume that’s coming. We’re working with specialised partners to ensure EVs are processed safely and responsibly, but consumers need to be aware that not every scrapyard can handle these vehicles properly.
Looking ahead, I expect EV disposal to become significantly more streamlined and valuable. As recycling technology improves, we’ll likely see old EVs actually worth more at end-of-life than conventional cars.
Car.co.uk is the UK’s all-in-one automotive platform, offering services like vehicle inspections, car finance, insurance, warranties, MOT history checks, valuations, and scrap car options. Their pre-purchase inspections range from basic 72-point checks to comprehensive 318-point assessments including road tests, full interior/body analysis, and MOT history reporting. As a loan broker regulated by the FCA, they provide guidance but do not directly lend money.
