Unlocking Economic and Environmental Gains Through Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling for Electric Vehicles

Amid South Africa’s shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), building a lithium-ion battery (LIB) recycling sector is essential for promoting sustainable development and generating employment opportunities. This study employs qualitative methodologies to collect insights from 12 critical stakeholders in the automotive, mining, and recycling sectors and academia to examine the feasibility and advantages of establishing such an industry. We implemented purposeful and snowball sampling to guarantee an exhaustive array of viewpoints. Thematic analysis of the interview data reveals that LIB recycling has substantial social, environmental, and economic implications. The results emphasize the pressing necessity of recycling infrastructure to mitigate environmental impacts and attract investment. The economic feasibility and employment potential of LIB recycling is promising despite the early stage of the EV industry in South Africa. These potentials are influenced by EV adoption rates, technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and industry growth. In this sector, employment opportunities are available in various phases: battery collection, transportation, disassembly, testing, mechanical crushing, hydrometallurgical processes, valuable metal recovery, manufacturing, reuse, research and development, and administrative roles. Each of these roles necessitates a unique set of skills. This interdisciplinary research investigates vital elements of economic growth, employment creation, environmental sustainability, policymaking, technological innovation, and global collaboration. The study offers valuable guidance to policymakers and industry stakeholders trying to establish a sustainable and robust LIB recycling industry in South Africa by utilizing Transition Management Theory to develop a framework for improving the sustainability and circularity of the EV LIB recycling sector.