LOW VOLTAGE BATTERY RECYCLING

ROLE OF END USER

Battery waste prevention can be supported through appropriate use and maintenance practices, including adherence to charging recommendations and timely servicing. These measures help extend battery life and delay end-of-life treatment.

 

GM Low Voltage battery components are designed with hazard mitigation and safety features. It is important to respond to any messages displayed or reported by the battery management system to help maintain the health of the battery.

 

GM supports the proper recycling and disposal of waste batteries but does not currently suggest the re-use, repurposing and/or remanufacturing after the first usage within a GM vehicle. ADR 2025 - Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road | UNECE Note: Lithium ion batteries transported for the intent of disposal or recycling are strictly prohibited for all air transportation.

 

Please refer to Safety and Safe Handling for more information on battery transportation.

 

Waste batteries must be handled with care due to potential risks associated with electrical, chemical, and / or thermal hazards.

 

Batteries should not be crushed, dropped or punctured to avoid damage. Damage or abuse may lead to a Thermal Runaway under certain circumstances or contact with hazardous substances.

 

Damage or abuse may include, but is not limited to:

  • Impacts that can damage any component outside of or within the battery
  • Exposure to temperatures below –30C or above 75C
  • Discharge or charge beyond 150A when not installed in a vehicle, including external shorts
  • Pressurized water into exposed vent port or submersion greater than 1M depth

 

Refer to the links below for additional safety procedures and instructions, including processes and proper risk mitigation measures.

 

Battery extraction manuals and other information including, images of required tools and PPE, are available at Low Voltage Battery Extraction Manual.

 

Parties performing end-of-life activities associated with waste Low voltage batteries should consider potential hazards posed by such operations when establishing work procedures and guidelines. Special care should be used when engaging in handling, transportation, storage, and end-of-life recycling of energized battery components, and over-the-road transportation of dangerous goods. All local, country, and EU occupational and environmental safety and handling regulations should be followed.

 

Owner Manuals, Service Manuals, Wiring Diagrams, Service Bulletins - Helm Incorporated

 

Helm incorporated is a website where General Motors and other automobile manufacturers’ original owner and service manuals can be obtained.


The following are high level recommendations for actions that can be taken to extend battery life.

  • Minimize high temperature exposure. Ideal temperature is 23°C +/- 2°C
  • Routinely inspect the battery terminals to make sure they are clean and secured tightly
  • Do not allow battery to remain at very low states of charge for an extended period of time

 

Lithium Ion Batteries Only

  • Avoid extreme cold conditions
  • Do not keep a float charger on the battery that keeps it at 100% state of charge for long periods of time.


GM supports the proper recycling and disposal of waste batteries as explained in this document. It is not possible to re-use, repurpose or remanufacture low-voltage batteries after they are no longer functional in a GM vehicle. However, the practices and recommendations set out above are aimed at extending their use phase. Please refer to the low voltage recyclers page Battery Recyclers for additional information on collection points and recyclers approved by GM for GM vehicles.

BATTERY RECYCLING

The information provided on this webpage applies only to low voltage (< 60V DC) batteries used in GM vehicles.