Hans Eric Melin

The Real Battery Economy, Seen Through Prices What falling used battery prices, rising material values, and record EV exports reveal about where value is actually created — and lost — across the battery lifecycle

Prices of used EV batteries are falling. That's good for recyclers. But also for repurposing businesses. But also for EV exporters...
🧀🐀🐈🐕
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I think that is a bit harsh to both German plant owners/engineers and Chinese machine builders or suppliers. Most Chinese companies I know are extremely competitive and would any day take a follow up order than a subsidy from the government.

Obviously hard to tell. To start later and use experiences of others might not be the worst thing.

That's a very good point. We will have a lot of "second cars" playing a role in the household which is very different to a commuter car that can serve both grid and house. Actually, why buy a home 5 kWh home battery for £4K when you can get a Leaf with 3-4 times that capacity for the same price.

Thanks! As long as there are companies finding they can create more value from used than from new batteries that will indeed happen. But it's a thin line.

Understanding the EV battery lifecycle – CES 2025 | Hans Eric Melin 🔋 15 slides to understand EVs’ real lifecycle 🖥️ You’re welcome. It’s been a busy month presenting, discussing, and explaining Circular Energy Storage Research and Consulting's data behind our lates...

Why there is no tsunami of waste EV batteries

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This will undermine everything from the repair market to insurance and finance which in itself may dampen the EV enthusiasm in several industries causing further delays.

Indeed. I think the general direction is clear. We are going electric. But in a time when car makers try to squeeze out more from hybrids and the general narrative becomes more ”wait and see“ we might see low values over several years not least as larger cohorts of lease vehicles hit the market.

No it will never happen of course but with OTA updates and timeless design things could be better. Just like smartphones hold better values than feature phones did. But first we just need EVs to at least keep up with ICE which they don’t.

Which is great for buyers but if you think about it, a disaster for the industry. And drives export meaning original markets don’t enjoy the full benefits of an electrified fleet. Ideally cars should retain values as houses. Then it doesn’t matter if they are expensive as credit would be cheaper.

Why Low Residual Values of EVs Threaten the Western Automotive Industry and a Circular Economy — and Why Focus on Ownership Is the Solution “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”You know the ads. A handsome man — sometimes a woman — caught in a perfect moment with their son or daughter...

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I also agree that the batteries, or rather the perception of the batteries is the problem. But also that private persons buying 2-3 years don’t need to follow a company‘s ESG policy. They (or we, I usually buy 3-4 y cars) simply represent another segment that somewhat have their own adoption curve.

To me the biggest problem with EVs, no matter where they are made, is low residual values. European car makers collect a big chunk of their profits from captive finance. Making EV ownership more attractive will increase demand, improve top line revenues, net profit and save jobs in the whole market.

Echo....
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Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament plenary ahead of the European Council of 23 October 2025 Thank you, Madam President, dear Roberta,\nMadam Minister,\nHonourable Members,\nOne topic of the European Council will be defence. We discussed it two weeks ago here, in this hemicycle, and we discus...

Again, the Commission wants it all:

Clean energy
A competitive clean tech industry
Made in Europe
By Europeans

That’s at least two objectives too many to be realistic in a globalised world

ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

It was great to share the stage in Stockholm with Jonas Premfors, bankruptcy trustee for Northvolt Expansion, and Ilka von Dalwigk, Director General of RECHARGE, at Mobilitetsdagen organised by… | Ha... It was great to share the stage in Stockholm with Jonas Premfors, bankruptcy trustee for Northvolt Expansion, and Ilka von Dalwigk, Director General of RECHARGE, at Mobilitetsdagen organised by Dagen...

The EU want to have its cake and eat it. That may kill the automotive industry. My two Euro cents in Stockholm.

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Three measures you must understand before investing in 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 🔋 ♻️ — or in a coffee shop. ☕ 💵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 is a cost when you buy and revenue when you sell. Both are… | Hans Eric Melin Three measures you must understand before investing in 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 🔋 ♻️ — or in a coffee shop. ☕ 💵 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 is a cost when you buy and revenue when you sell. Both are shaped by supply and demand...

Invest in battery recycling. As easy as investing in a coffee shop: www.linkedin.com/posts/hanser...

Chinese freighter halves EU delivery time on maiden Arctic voyage to UK A Chinese container ship has completed a pioneering journey through the Arctic to a UK port, state-run news agency Xinhua reported, cutting in half the usual transit time for the electric vehicles and solar panels aboard destined for Europe.

50% less time on sea
100% more goods with the same fleet
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Diese Tipps helfen beim Kauf eines gebrauchten E-Autos! | Hans Eric Melin Great article in AUTO BILD about the low second-hand values of EVs, aiming both to explain why buyers are worried while also showing that their worries are often unfounded. Nevertheless, it reveals ag...

We don’t need better EV sales. We need better EV ownership
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I love the little C-Zero 🚗 . Or the i-Miev and the ion. All being the same car from Citroen, Mitsubishi and Peugeot. Here, yesterday in Marylebone in London. Still modern, still stylish. The… | Ha... I love the little C-Zero 🚗 . Or the i-Miev and the ion. All being the same car from Citroen, Mitsubishi and Peugeot. Here, yesterday in Marylebone in London. Still modern, still stylish. The range...

A story about an adorable electric car and its lifecycle.

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But in Europe they were down in 2024. Not only the growth rate but the actual volumes. Which means that this year's increase of around 25% actually not even takes it back to the expected trajectory. It's high in China and ROW. Great for you if you mine copper. Not so much if you are CPO in Germany.

BEV residual values continue to drag in September Residual values (RVs) of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to languish across many European markets during September.

Residual values for EVs continue to slide.

And here's the thing. Next year's EV stock coming off 3-years lease contracts in Europe will be around 28% higher. Will the adoption rate among private buyers keep up with that?

autovista24.autovistagroup.com/news/mmu-bev...

What do residual values of EVs have to do with how many batteries we’ll reuse or recycle? Quite a lot, actually. Almost as much as the total number of EVs sold. Residual value drives cost of… | Hans... What do residual values of EVs have to do with how many batteries we’ll reuse or recycle? Quite a lot, actually. Almost as much as the total number of EVs sold. Residual value drives cost of ownersh...

Speaking about low residual values again. Because somebody needs to. Not ”despite” we like EVs, but because we want the market to succeed. And it’s not working.
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Nice size! And price. I was also surprised to see Maxis bring more muscle cars to 🇬🇧.

$284 million. That’s how much the European light EV battery recycling market will be worth in 2030 at today’s material prices, according to Circular Energy Storage Research and Consulting’s latest… | ... $284 million. That’s how much the European light EV battery recycling market will be worth in 2030 at today’s material prices, according to Circular Energy Storage Research and Consulting’s latest for...

The EV battery recycling challenge. To survive until it's meaningful.

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I think Vienna lost its position mainly due to the terror threat and subsequent cancelation of Taylor Swift's concerts but the electric postal service is indeed a nice feature. A lot of Maxus vans and my favourites the small three wheel scooters.

🚀 Big update from Circular Energy Storage! We’ve just launched an improved dashboard on our data portal, CES Online — and now anyone can track our high-level forecasts for the global battery… | Hans ... 🚀 Big update from Circular Energy Storage! We’ve just launched an improved dashboard on our data portal, CES Online — and now anyone can track our high-level forecasts for the global battery market: ...

Our four most important forecasts (high-level) now available free for anyone:

Battery demand
Batteries in use
Supply of used batteries
Supply of battery scrap

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#battchat

Update from CES 26 September 2025 The Battery Market, Unlocked CES has opened up its high-level data on CES Online. Track demand, supply, recycling, and usage—available now for everyone on the first page of CES Online.

Track our high-level data for free – and check out our latest posts
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Electric vehicles will typically last 20 years or more—just like ICE vehicles today. In our latest report, The Battery Lifecycle Report 2025, we dedicate a considerable number of pages to proving… | ... Electric vehicles will typically last 20 years or more—just like ICE vehicles today. In our latest report, The Battery Lifecycle Report 2025, we dedicate a considerable number of pages to proving thi...

How can you monetise 25 TWh?
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“Do you believe in second life?” After 10+ years analysing this field, I still get asked. But it’s the wrong question. Belief doesn’t matter. The market does. Right now, companies choose: ♻️ Send…... “Do you believe in second life?” After 10+ years analysing this field, I still get asked. But it’s the wrong question. Belief doesn’t matter. The market does. Right now, companies choose: ♻️ Send ...

EV batteries are reused today and will continue to be reused. But in a fast-growing market and with batteries living long lives in the vehicles, the business cases of reuse and repurposing are and will always be challenging.
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