They can be recycled now. google is your friend.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1122631_tesla-launches-battery-recycling-at-nevada-gigafactory


should be good for economies by creating new recycling industries.

Edited: 11/11/2019 at 10:28 AM by matt_t

It will be interesting to see what electric cars do to the used car market. On a gasoline powered car, the most expensive items you can expect to replace would probably be engine and transmission. All cars are different but for most cars, you can get a new or rebuilt option for both for $1500-2000. I've only heard one first-hand story of one person having to replace the electric batteries in a car and this person said it cost them $8000. I've read that in various cars, it can cost anywhere from $5K-29K.

Most Americans don't keep $5K in reserves just in case their car breaks down. If someone has an electric car, the batteries give out, and they don't have the money to repair it, then they have to try to sell a car that doesn't work. Ever try to sell a car that needs a new engine? Resell value goes down far below what is needed just to do the repair. Unless something changes drastically, then it looks like many of these electric cars are basically meant to be disposable cars or that there will be some screaming deals on used ones when people don't have the money to replace batteries.

For example, it costs around $8,500 to replace the 24Kwh battery in a Nissan LEAF. If the vehicle is 7 years old or older then it costs you more to replace the batteries than the car is worth. That's a problem.

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"The government who robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul," - George Bernard Shaw

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Edited: 11/11/2019 at 11:22 AM by Sniper

This is a valid point
but short sighted..
you can buy various versions of batteries already.. just like many people choose to install a rebuilt engine instead of a new one after an engine failure.
People have that option now with smartphone replacement batteries.

Or just as in your Nissan Leaf example, people elect to scrap their ICE vehicles when repair cost more than the cars value. That's common with any vehicle. Few ICE cars are reliable after 100/150k miles. I had a Mercedes ML go 225k before the transmission died which cost more than it was worth.

Prices of batteries are already coming down and as battery tech and battery production continues to mature..

Electrics have little maint which makes up quite a difference in cost of ownership Other than AC, brakes and tires, is there any other maint cost?
No tranny, coolant, timing belts... other weird O2 sensors and such.

I guess the big question is "how long will the crop of EV's last? " Especially these newer generation models. 100k? 250k? More?

For the record: I always thought the leaf was a piece of crap. A glorified golf cart IMO.

I'd imagine in the future, car makers will offer extended battery warranty coverage if they do not already.. at 45k-250k price range, Tesla buyers prob can afford extra warranty cost.