# Mobile Factories for Recycling Used Electric Vehicle Batteries > This patent describes a system of movable containers that can be brought to a location to safely discharge, cool, disassemble, and crush used battery packs, making the recycling process more flexible and efficient. - **Patent:** US 20250246702 - **Original title:** Movable battery pack processing device and processing method - **Owner:** Posco Co - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** automotive, energy, materials, mechanical, environmental_services ## What it does This invention provides a portable system for processing used battery packs, like those from electric vehicles. It uses several specialized containers that can be moved to where the batteries are located. A first container handles initial steps, either discharging the battery's power or cooling it (Claim 1). This container might use a 'reverse voltage discharge device' to safely remove energy (Claim 5). Next, a second container receives the processed battery pack and disassembles it (Claim 1). This disassembly can involve tools like a blade, laser, or waterjet cutting device (Claim 6). Finally, a third container crushes the disassembled battery pack, often using a shredding device (Claim 1, Claim 7). For example, a company could move these containers to a car dealership or repair shop to process old EV batteries on-site, rather than shipping them to a fixed recycling plant. ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover a stationary, fixed-location battery recycling plant where containers are not designed to be moved to the battery's location (Claim 2, Claim 13). - Does not cover a system where the discharge, disassembly, and crushing steps all occur within a single, non-modular unit (Claim 1). - Does not cover a processing device that only performs one or two of the steps (discharge/cool, disassemble, crush) without the full sequence of modules (Claim 1). - Does not cover systems that do not use separate, interconnected containers for each primary processing stage (Claim 1, Claim 4). - Does not cover the specific chemical processes for extracting materials after crushing, only the mechanical processing up to and including crushing and sorting pole pieces (Claim 9, Claim 10). ## The clever bit The novelty lies in modularizing the complex and potentially dangerous battery recycling process into separate, movable containers. This allows the entire 'factory' to be transported to the source of waste batteries, rather than requiring batteries to be shipped to a central facility, which is a significant logistical and safety improvement. ## Real-world examples 1. Mobile EV battery recycling units 2. On-site processing for large industrial battery packs 3. Temporary battery processing facilities at disaster sites 4. Modular battery dismantling stations for vehicle manufacturers ## Why it matters As electric vehicles become more common, managing and recycling their large battery packs is a growing challenge. This patent offers a solution by making the initial stages of battery recycling more flexible and potentially safer. By bringing the processing units to the batteries, it could reduce transportation costs and risks associated with moving fully charged or damaged battery packs over long distances. This approach could streamline the end-of-life management for EV batteries, impacting logistics and environmental sustainability. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Mobile Factories for Recycling Used Electric Vehicle Batteries cover? This patent describes a system of movable containers that can be brought to a location to safely discharge, cool, disassemble, and crush used battery packs, making the recycling process more flexible and efficient. ### Who owns patent US 20250246702? This patent is owned by Posco Co. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on November 16, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What problem does this patent solve? As electric vehicles become more common, managing and recycling their large battery packs is a growing challenge. This patent offers a solution by making the initial stages of battery recycling more flexible and potentially safer. By bringing the processing units to the batteries, it could reduce transportation costs and risks associated with moving fully charged or damaged battery packs over long distances. This approach could streamline the end-of-life management for EV batteries, impacting logistics and environmental sustainability. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover a stationary, fixed-location battery recycling plant where containers are not designed to be moved to the battery's location (Claim 2, Claim 13). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20250246702/movable-battery-pack-processing-device-and-processing-method **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250246702 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Recycling Lithium-Ion Battery Parts Using a Gentle Liquid Method](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12327847/method-of-recycling-materials-from-lithium-ion-batteries) — This patent describes a method for taking apart used lithium-ion batteries by soaking their electrodes in a special liquid to separate valuable materials like active electrode powders from metal collectors, making them easier to reuse. - [Forecasting When Used Electric Car Batteries Will Be Available for Reuse](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9791514/recycled-secondary-battery-supply-forecast-system-and-recycled-secondary-battery) — This patent describes a system that predicts when electric vehicles will reach the end of their useful life and how much capacity their batteries will still have, to forecast the future supply of batteries that can be reused in other applications. - [How to Grade Used Batteries for a Second Life](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9397374/secondary-battery-module-battery-information-management-device-battery-informati) — This patent describes a system that reads electrical characteristics and usage history from a rechargeable battery module to determine if it's good enough to be used again for a different purpose, like energy storage. - [How a Battery Automatically Disconnects Itself During Overheating](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12288901/draco-thrusters) — A safety system for battery packs that uses a heat-sensitive material to physically break the electrical connection between cells if they get too hot, preventing thermal runaway. - [Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries to Make New Cathode Materials](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10522884/method-and-apparatus-for-recycling-lithium-ion-batteries) — This patent describes a method for recycling used lithium-ion batteries by dissolving their cathode materials, adjusting the metal ratios in a liquid, and then pulling out a custom mix of materials for new batteries without needing extreme heat.