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Dos and Don’ts for Managing End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries
How to maintain eligibility for no-cost recovery
When assessing end-of-life options for an EV battery, knowing what do and what not to do can make the difference between no-cost management and incurring recovery costs. A traction battery, the main power source for an electric vehicle (EV), is one of the vehicle’s most complex components and requires safe, responsible handling through its entire lifecycle. From the outside, the battery may appear to be just one large unit; however, beneath the outer casing lies an advanced system made-up of hundreds or even thousands of individual cells, combined into modules, and then assembled into a complete battery pack. Every one of those packs represents an opportunity to reduce waste and recover valuable materials, helping to power Canada’s circular economy.
The battery holder, including an auto dismantler, recycler, independent garage and repair shop, shredder, independent dealer, or fleet operator, is responsible for safely removing the battery from the vehicle and determining the next appropriate step in its lifecycle. If the battery ‘as is’ holds no further value to the holder, then it may be best to direct it to the industry-led, national EV Battery Recovery™ pathway for proper collection and recovery.
The EV Battery Recovery™ Pathway
The EV Battery Recovery™ program, supported by 16 participating vehicle manufacturers, complements existing individual vehicle manufacturers warranty, recall, and remanufacturing programs, ensuring that EV batteries that emerge outside those channels are also safely and responsibly recovered.
When a battery holder has an end-of-life EV battery, based on its value, a consideration is whether to offer it to the EV Battery Recovery™ program. If eligible, the program provides free collection from any accessible location across Canada, covering all packaging, logistics, and processing costs, ensuring responsible management through recycling or other approved pathways. The program focuses on low-value or unwanted batteries that may otherwise be abandoned or pose significant costs for a business. It does not provide emergency response services or battery recovery in inaccessible areas.
Before opening the pack, removing modules or components, or modifying the battery for another use, the following dos and don’ts will explain how these actions can affect eligibility for no-cost recovery through the EV Battery Recovery™ program.
DO: Confirm Battery Eligibility
To be eligible, the battery must have been originally installed to provide motive power in a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell, or battery electric vehicle, from a participating vehicle manufacturer. Confirm that the battery was supplied in a vehicle by a participating manufacturer before proceeding with the recovery request.
Eligibility also depends on whether the battery has been modified. For example, opening the battery pack to remove modules or other components, or modifying the entire pack to repurpose it for use in another application, such as standby power, will affect eligibility. Once modified, the battery is considered a new product, and responsibility shifts to the new manufacturer or repurposer, whether the work was done commercially or by an individual. That party is also responsible for any waste, unused modules, or components generated by the modification. Batteries remanufactured, repurposed, modified, or disassembled by anyone other than the OEM or its designee may affect program eligibility and result in refusal. The program accepts batteries damaged in the vehicle during normal use.
DON’T: Open, separate, or modify the battery pack without first understanding how that can affect recovery eligibility, responsibility, and costs.
DO: Properly Classify Battery for Safe Transport
Once an EV battery is safely removed from a vehicle, the battery holder needs to determine if it should be classified as either end-of-life (i.e., no signs of thermal events, damage, or defects) or damaged/defective (i.e., signs of dents, punctures, broken or damaged terminals) per Transport Canada requirements. This information is necessary for the program to determine the best means of containment, transportation, and the battery’s final destination.
DON’T: Assume that all EV batteries can be handled and shipped the same way.
For additional guidance on classifying, packaging and transporting batteries, consult Transport Canada’s transporting batteries bulletin.
DO: Confirm No Pending Insurance Claims
If the vehicle was in an accident and has a pending insurance claim for loss or damage, the insurance company may legally own the battery.
DON’T: Submit a recovery request if ownership and insurance claims have not been settled.
To learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, or to initiate a recovery request, visit EVBatteryRecovery.ca.