When Your EV Battery Expires, Who’s Responsible for It?

More than one in five cars sold globally in 2024 was electric, with sales crossing 17 million — a new record. And similar trends are emerging across other vehicle types, such as electric trucks, electric bikes and U.S. electric school buses.

This marks a much-needed shift toward cleaner, healthier transportation that doesn't warm the planet or pollute the air. Yet rising EV use also presents a burgeoning challenge: How to manage the influx of retired batteries?

The amount of EV battery power needed globally is projected to triple in the coming years, from 1 terawatt-hour (TWh) in 2024 to 3 TWh in 2030. A typical EV battery is expected to last 8-12 years on average, after which it must be removed and replaced. At the current pace of EV sales globally, experts predict there will be about 20,500 kilotons of end-of-life batteries by 2040 — roughly 55 times the weight of the Empire State Building.

So, what happens to these batteries at the end of their life in a vehicle? How do we ensure they don't become a threat to people or the environment? And, critically, whose duty should it be to ensure they're managed responsibly?

We explored how some countries and U.S. states are addressing these questions — particularly through a policy known as "extended producer responsibility" — and what to watch on the road ahead.