Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group
Background
The Hawai‘i State Energy Office (HSEO) and the Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) are actively convening the Electric Vehicle (EV) Battery Recycling and Reuse Working Group pursuant to Act 209 (SLH 2025). This working group was created in response to the need for a coordinated, statewide approach to managing end-of-life EV batteries—a challenge that has become more pressing with the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market.
The working group will develop a plan for best management practices for recycling, reuse, repurposing, and, when necessary, disposal of electric vehicle batteries. Membership includes representatives from various sectors throughout the EV battery industry, including researchers, policymakers, manufacturers, shippers, and end-of-life recycling facilities. Act 209 received broad support from industry to address the complex risks associated with EV batteries, including fire hazards from lithium-ion batteries, which occur when batteries are improperly handled or damaged.
HSEO supports electrification of transportation as a critical component of the state’s clean transportation and decarbonization goals. Just as important, HSEO is working to make sure that the batteries powering these vehicles are managed responsibly at the end of their life. Safe reuse, recycling, and disposal of batteries is critical to protecting our communities, public health and safety, as well as the environment. Accordingly, developing end-of-life management strategies and best practices ensures stewardship to prevent unintended consequences at the end of each battery’s useful life.
Statutory Requirements
Working Group Requirements:
- Develop a plan for best management practices for the recycling, reuse, or repurposing of electric vehicle batteries.
- Coordinate with any other organization, working group, or relevant entity within or outside of the State that has similar objectives as the working group, or is researching the recycling, reuse, or repurposing of electric vehicle batteries.
- Develop policy recommendations for the legislature to implement based on the working group’s findings.
Report Requirements:
- Opportunities for and barriers to the reuse of electric vehicle batteries as a first option, as potential stationary energy storage systems as a second option, and for recycling as a third option, taking into account the additional costs of transporting electric vehicle batteries to be recycled out of State.
- Best practices for the management of electric vehicle batteries at end-of-life.
- The cost, safety, and environmental impacts of in-state versus out-of-state recycling options.
- The feasibility of pursuing any recycling options outside of the United States.
- The feasibility in terms of costs, available infrastructure, and enforcement of an electric vehicle battery recycling program.
- The overall effect of different management practices on the environment.
- Any other factors deemed necessary and relevant.
Although the membership has been filled, we will dedicate time at the end of the meeting for public comments. We welcome the public to join, listen in, and present their comments.
- Note: The September 2025 meeting will be rescheduled to October 2025 due to unforeseen technical difficulties.
Tentative Schedule
| Date | Topic | Details/Content? |
|---|---|---|
| August 2025 | Inaugural all-hands meeting | Member introductions, Sunshine Law, Act 209 requirements, current landscape |
| September 2025 (Rescheduled to October 2025) | Current Landscape, Intro to End-of-Life Options | Definitions, Battery chemistries, opportunities and batteries to reuse presentations |
| November 2025 | End-of-Life Options | Opportunities and barriers for EOL EV’s in stationary storage, recycling, and disposal |
| February 2026 | Management Practices | Existing conditions, Best management practices (BMPs) for intact batteries, BMPs for damages, defective, and recalled (DDR) batteries |
| May 2026 | Recycling Options | In-state options, mainland options, international options |
| August 2026 | Policy Recommendations | Conditions of a recycling program, proposed legislation |
| November 2026 | Draft Report Discussion |
Past Meeting Materials
| Date | Topic | Recording | Meeting Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 27, 2025 | Inaugural Meeting | August Meeting Recording | August Meeting Minutes |