Mass. startup has better way to recycle EV batteries

It’s not just about keeping old batteries from piling up in landfills. The US must import most of the lithium and other critical metals needed to make new batteries. With recycling, “we buy it once and then we keep it here,” said Jeff Spangenberger, director of the ReCell Center, a battery recycling project run by the US Department of Energy. “You can recover these materials … and actually drive down the cost of new batteries.”Get Innovation BeatBoston Globe tech reporters tell the story of the region’s technology and innovation industry, highlighting key players, trends, and why they matter.The lead-acid batteries in our gas-powered cars are easily recycled. They’re made mostly of lead, and weigh around 40 pounds. But the typical electric car battery weighs half a ton and is crammed with exotic metals like lithium and cobalt. To ferret them out, typically “you…

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