In January, the New Jersey Legislature passed a groundbreaking law that creates industry guidance for the recycling of lithium-ion vehicle batteries. The Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Battery Management Act holds battery producers responsible for the end-of-life management of propulsion batteries, imposing several requirements.
Under the act, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will be responsible for evaluating and approving battery management plans submitted by battery producers, which will outline planned methods for the acceptance, transport, recycling, reuse, and/or repurposing of batteries. Battery producers must submit an updated battery management plan to DEP every five years. DEP will also develop training materials and a public education program to disseminate information concerning the handling of electric vehicle batteries before or at end-of-life of the battery.
The Act aims to support the creation of a circular economy by keeping EV batteries out of landfills, reusing materials to decrease the cost of new batteries, incentivizing job creation, and reducing reliance on foreign mining and the importation of rare minerals.
