3 ms·

I wasn't aware that using a battery destroyed the lithium

• fallingknife 3y ago
  Only if it's a fusion battery!
  • xorbax 3y ago
    The best part is that OP edited his comment to make it seem like he didn't argue that an exhausted battery consumed lithium Fun!
    • jaggederest 3y ago
      Editing for clarity is encouraged here, generally. That was not what I was trying to say. The math is something like: MTBF cycles * capacity of battery = usable "life" of the battery usage of lithium by mass in the battery * best recycling technology recovery rate = recoverable lithium per battery ((mass of lithium in battery - recoverable lithium per battery) / usable "life" of the battery) = lithium effectively used up per joule of energy used from that battery It may be that that number is zero grams, or a few picograms, so it doesn't matter. But I don't think with current recovery rates on battery recycling that's true. So, while a failed battery has the same mass of lithium as a new battery, effectively every charge-discharge cycle "uses up" some lithium, which ultimately ends up wasted as recycling byproducts or unusable salts.