Bad Batteries & Recycling
What do I do with my batteries?
What should you do with your electric bike lithium-ion battery if it’s damaged or when you're finished with it? You can't just throw out in the trash. Here are some options:
Refurbishing Batteries
It would be great if you could have your current ebike battery refurbished. Seems like the green thing to do. However, there are few companies who will do this for liability reasons. Plus, the cost of shipping the battery and having it refurbished is almost as much as purchasing a new one. Technology also prevents many ebike batteries from being refurbished. Most known brands have proprietary software inside and unless a company has access to this, they cannot rebuild it. The battery won't work with the bike's electric system.
Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries
The other option is to recycle the battery. As of writing this, NAPA Auto Parts will accept batteries as long as they are not damaged. If you purchased your ebike from us, you can drop off your dead battery at our shop for a $20 recycling fee. We will not take damaged batteries.
Call2Recycle specifically handles battery recycling and has partnered with many retailers and municipalities. If you didn’t buy from us, check with your ebike retailer or manufacturer. They may offer a take-back program for your dead batteries.
What to Do with Damaged or Bad Batteries
If you have an electric bike battery that is damaged, you need to dispose of it as soon as possible. Damaged lithium-ion batteries can cause serious safety concerns, including fires, explosions, and the release of flammable and toxic vapors. Damaged batteries can also reignite days after the initial damage.
Some Ways to Recognize a Damaged Battery
Battery bulge or swelling
Device becomes too hot while charging or in use
Hissing, cracking, or popping sounds
Strong or unusual odor
Smoke
If you think you might have a damaged lithium-ion ebike battery, store the battery or device in a safe location until the proper disposal option is identified. This could be in a bucket full of a fire suppressant such as sand or kitty litter or in another location away from flammable materials. If you think you have an imminent risk of fire, you may need to call 911.
Where to Take the Damaged Battery
Contact your local household hazardous waste (HHW) facility to see if they accept ebike batteries. Many areas have dedicated drop-off locations for hazardous waste.
We called around Boone and Hamilton counties in Indiana and only found one place that will take damaged lithium-ion ebike batteries. The company is Nu Genesis and is located in Mooresville, Indiana.