Supplementary evidence from the Local Government Association (ELV0141)

Supplementary evidence from the LGA

The Committee are interested in hearing about the role of local authorities in recycling EVs and EV batteries at end-of-life, particularly those that have been illegally fly-tipped for example. What role does a local authority have in managing EV fly-tipping or abandonment? How is this handled in terms of disposal, are there any risks associated with fly-tipping of EVs (as opposed to ICE vehicles) that local authorities are managing?

The LGA have not come across any reports from member councils relating to the fly-tipping of EV batteries or the abandonment of EV cars. There is separate legislation that deals with abandoned cars (regardless of how they are powered). Councils are responsible for the removal of abandoned vehicles on a public road or other public place, in conjunction with the DVLA and the police. Local authorities have statutory power to remove abandoned vehicles on public roads under the Refuse and Disposal Amenity Act (Amenity Act) 1978, Section 99 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and the Removal and Disposal of Vehicle (England) Regulations 2002 as amended. There is also Government guidance on this.

There are also specific regulations in place already to deal with EV batteries at the end of their lives which greatly reduces the risk of batteries or EVs being abandoned or fly-tipped. To quote the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for EFRA: “In parallel with the end-of-life vehicles regulations, there are also regulations governing the disposal and recycling of batteries. In particular, the batteries regulations ban the disposal to landfill as well as the incineration of both automotive and industrial batteries. Under the regulations, electric vehicle batteries are classified as industrial batteries. The regulations require those placing electric vehicle batteries on the market for the first time, whether as batteries or as part of the vehicle, to register as a battery producer. Industrial battery producers are obligated to take back such batteries, including electric vehicle batteries, free of charge from end users.”

Industry has also identified residual uses for EV car batteries that are past their useful life – for example as static battery storage systems either domestically or on an industrial scale. The active battery recycling market is still in its relative infancy in the UK. There are valuable components in EV batteries, which can be recycled to produce new batteries. Devon County Council recently supported Altilitech through the Green Innovation Fund to scale-up their proprietary process for recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries to a commercial operation. Verified by the University of Plymouth, the innovative method recovers over 95 per cent of the critical metals contained within spent batteries at a quality for reuse in new batteries.

Abandoned cars can be at risk of arson. There have been some reported concerns with the flammability of EV vehicles, but research tends to show that they are no worse than petrol or diesel vehicles, but that lithium-ion fires are difficult to extinguish and produce toxic smoke.