alt Hacker News> - It will have new cells rather than used ones.
This is not a feature. Our Earth is a limited resource, and being able to reuse batteries instead of discarding them to the trash is a desirable property.
Replies
Pick used EV or industrial batteries. This must be much more efficient due to a larger cell size than in laptops.
OTOH used laptop batteries can likely be obtained for effectively zero monetary cost, while used EV or solar backup batteries still cost quite noticeable money per kWh. With laptop batteries, you pay with your time; if you for some reason have an excess supply thereof, or you just enjoy this kind of work as a pastime.
> Our Earth is a limited resource
Of course. No one disputes that. I was just trying to point out that you can get better cells for less money.
> being able to reuse batteries instead of discarding them to the trash is a desirable property
I fully agree. No one is trying to suggest that we should discard used batteries into trash.
There's even more to the riddle. Lithium recycling, cost of the power loss in old cells. Power transmit cost. Cost of power generation on site.