A chemical bath can bring old EV batteries back to near‑full strength.
Researchers at Cornell University mixed a proprietary electrolyte with spent lithium‑ion cells. The treatment restored up to 95% of the batteries’ original capacity. The same test showed recycling costs fell by 56% compared with conventional methods. The process works on cells from typical passenger‑car packs.
If the lab results scale, recyclers could keep more energy in the supply chain and charge less for recovered batteries. Lower costs may make second‑life applications viable, extending the useful life of EV packs. Automakers could also meet stricter reuse targets without building new factories.
For now the method is still in the prototype stage, and industrial rollout will depend on safety testing and regulatory approval.