Everledger with the U.S. Department of Energy and Ford
Challenge
The battery revolution has the potential to create 10 million jobs, add $150 billion to the global economy and provide electricity to 600 million people for the first time. With an estimated 18 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030, battery technology could enable the transport and power sectors to reduce emissions by 30%, in line with the 2°C target of the Paris Agreement. However, these gains risk being undermined unless battery supply chains can become more circular to ensure recycling of the metals and minerals they use.
Solution
The United States Department of Energy opened a public call last year to support increased sustainability in the industry. As a result, Everledger has partnered with Ford Motor Company to create a digital identity pilot programme for EV batteries. Using Everledger’s blockchain platform, stakeholders along the supply chain can keep track of each battery’s location, condition and health score, with a view to extending its useful life, generating less waste and avoiding leakage into the environment. The first phase of this project is partially funded by the Department of Energy with the goal of giving batteries a bespoke digital identity (or ‘battery passport’) (read more on blockchain battery recycling).
On the other side of the planet, Everledger is working with the Battery Industry Group (B.I.G) in New Zealand to develop an EV battery circular product stewardship scheme. EV batteries may have around 70% to 80% of their capacity remaining when they reach the end of their useful life in a vehicle at about 10 years and can be repurposed for energy storage, extending life for another 10-15 years.
Outcome
Through Everledger’s intelligent labelling solutions, battery characteristics and history are captured digitally and then logged onto the blockchain, enabling higher security, record immutability and privacy. Our solutions allow critical life cycle data to be exchanged, creating a more efficient circular system. Manufacturers are incentivised to share critical data with value chain stakeholders to improve safety and reduce the costs of extending the life of batteries and recycling.
As such, the battery value chain provides a fascinating test case for the supportive environment that’s needed in the circular economy. Rapidly falling technology costs are creating major opportunities to reduce waste. For example, blockchain and Internet of Things (IoT) can keep track of valuable products and materials much more cheaply than in the past, radically increasing opportunities to recover them.
Did you know?
Everledger also contributes and endorses the principles of the Global Battery Alliance, an initiative dedicated to building an environmentally sustainable battery value chain.
