Powerful lithium batteries in written-off EVs now hot property at salvage auctions

<p>Demand for secondhand electric vehicle batteries is surging across Australia, as buyers repurpose them for everything from solar storage to off-grid energy</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/sep/28/australia-news-live-albanese-king-charles-afl-brisbane-coalition-liberals-western-australia-gst-queensland-nsw-victoria-labor-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Written-off vehicles typically earn little attention, with the main buyers usually being auto wreckers seeking parts or car enthusiasts hunting for restoration projects.</p><p>But at salvage auctions across Australia, a new type of buyer is emerging, and they are interested in one thing: the high-powered batteries inside electric vehicles.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/28/australia-batteries-in-written-off-evs-electric-vehicles-demand-for-solar">Continue reading...</a>