The Role and Challenges of Visual Inspection in Electric Vehicle Battery Repurposing

With the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), managing end-of-life EV batteries effectively becomes crucial. Repurposing these batteries presents a promising solution to mitigate environmental impact but necessitates rigorous safety and state-of-health assessments. This paper reviews literature and industry interviews to examine the role and challenges of visual inspection in EV battery repurposing. Despite its crucial role alongside electrical testing, comprehensive documentation on visual inspection remains scarce. Industry insights highlight the significance of visual inspection in identifying end-of-life indicators and ensuring safe battery handling. Challenges include lack of standardization, battery safety knowledge gaps, and inefficient processes. This study underscores the need for standardized, efficient, and safe repurposing procedures and proposes a model that illustrates the role of visual inspection throughout the battery life cycle.