but the metal boxes that Mr Li and his team in southern China gather and sell are…
Mr Li is an absolutely perfectly name for someone in the lithium recycling business.
Joking aside, old batteries are essentially high quality ore for all of the elements required for new batteries. We just need to optimize the process to convert and batteries into new batteries. Whoever finds the best solution first stands to capture a large part of the recycling market.
Please note: this is intended as a interesting fact, rather than a correction - as the difference for all intents and purposes is moot.
Lithium batteries don’t contain acid, per se, but the electrolyte they do use will produce hydrofluoric acid when exposed to water (even moisture in the air will be enough).
Hydrofluoric acid is lower strength than the traditional sulphuric acid, but can be absolute 50s B-movie nightmare fuel. It eats through glass, which sulphuric acid doesn’t and very easily forms clouds of gas which can administer a lethal dose hours before you even realise you’ve been exposed. Basically, by the time you notice, it’s already too late.
So like I said, the difference to what you said is moot - just thought this might be an interesting side note.
Just to clarify, though, I’m thinking about industrial scale recycling here.
Although it’s not a non-risk, EVs aren’t any more dangerous to crash than ICE cars. Let’s not forget that petrol / diesel is highly, highly explosive, and just sloshes about in a thin steel box under your car.
Plus, something that I should have mentioned: exposure to hydrofluoric acid is treatable to some extent - the key factor is knowing that you’ve been exposed and acting on it before you show any symptoms.
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