HONOLULU (KITV4) -- It's a problem that's really piling up... literally. At salvage yards across the islands, collections of dead batteries from electric vehicles are growing because there's nowhere else to send them.
Batteries from EVs can be recycled and repurposed, but in Hawaii it's not that simple.
"Because there's no place to recycle on the island and, and to get them off the island, it costs a lot of money per battery," explained Rob Oakley, a Kalihi Valley resident who's been in the auto repair and restoration business for over 30 years. "There's shipping restrictions, there's lithium ion batteries, there's fire hazards. They have special shipping containers that they got to be in, be in. So, you know, it costs a lot of money to get those batteries off the island and nobody wants to pay for it."
As these EV batteries accumulate, so do the collections of lithium, nickel, arsenic, and other toxic compounds. Oakley knows that should be a worry for all of us.
"The fire and the safety for our, for our islands. If these cells end up in the landfills, they break down, they catch fire. You can't put out a landfill fire. The islands are pretty much unlivable if that happens."
Batteries from EVs can be recycled and repurposed, but in Hawaii it's not that simple.
"Because there's no place to recycle on the island and, and to get them off the island, it costs a lot of money per battery," explained Rob Oakley, a Kalihi Valley resident who's been in the auto repair and restoration business for over 30 years. "There's shipping restrictions, there's lithium ion batteries, there's fire hazards. They have special shipping containers that they got to be in, be in. So, you know, it costs a lot of money to get those batteries off the island and nobody wants to pay for it."
As these EV batteries accumulate, so do the collections of lithium, nickel, arsenic, and other toxic compounds. Oakley knows that should be a worry for all of us.
"The fire and the safety for our, for our islands. If these cells end up in the landfills, they break down, they catch fire. You can't put out a landfill fire. The islands are pretty much unlivable if that happens."
Dead Batteries From Electric Vehicles In Hawaii Find Dead Ends
HONOLULU (KITV4) -- It's a problem that's really piling up.. literally. At salvage yards across the islands, collections of dead batteries from electric vehicles are growing because there's nowhere else
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