What Will Happen to the 141,000 Batteries that GM Just Recalled from Chevrolet Bolt Cars?

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Written By Barry Lenson

In one of the biggest automotive recalls in history, General Motors has informed 141,000 owners of Chevrolet Bolt electric cars that they have to bring their cars in to have their batteries replaced.

Why? It’s because it has been reported that some of the batteries those cars contain can catch fire, which is certainly a very big problem. And as you would expect, a number of Bolt owners are not happy to hear that their ultra-advanced and very pretty new eCars could burst into flame. A growing number of them have demanded to return their cars for refunds. What would you do if you just spent about $40,000 on a new Bolt?

So, What Will Happen to those 141,000 Battery Packs?

We wish we could tell you that you can get your hands on those decommissioned batteries by plucking them out of dumpsters located behind Chevy dealers. But unfortunately you can’t because GM has no plans to toss old batteries. They contain a lot of valuable materials that include cobalt, manganese, and nickel. Instead of tossing those materials, they will be reclaimed and used to make redesigned batteries that will not pose fire risks.

We also cannot tell you that the $1.2 billion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the Senate passed last month is going to buy all those batteries back and pay top dollar to anyone who brings them in. We wish we could tell you that, but we can’t because that is not about to happen.

Look Elsewhere for Metals to Recycle from Cars

So even though we might have burst your bubble in today’s post by explaining that all those old Bolt batteries are not going to be yours for the taking, let’s pause a moment to review some of the other recyclable automotive components that are available in recycling yards and other locations, often at low prices.

  • Copper wire – Cars are full of it. Pull it out and recycle it profitably.

  • Printed circuit boards – You can find them in the computers that monitor engine functions, in fuel injection components, in antilock braking systems, in dashboard displays, and in audio systems. They contain gold in small amounts. The more of them you can collect, the more money you could make by recycling them.

  • Airbags and other components – The sensors and circuit boards that control them contain small amounts of gold.

Start Collecting and Give Us a Call

We are available to answer all your questions about making money in precious metal scrap. Give us a call at 800-426-2344 and let’s discuss your plans.

Barry Lenson
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