A New Hope For US Farmers: Fertilizer Made From EV Batteries

The article discusses innovative scientific efforts aimed at supporting U.S. farmers by repurposing used electric vehicle (EV) batteries into fertilizer and enhancing crop yields through advanced solar technology. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee have developed a process that introduces potassium into spent lithium iron phosphate (LFP) EV batteries, enabling the extraction of key fertilizer nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. This approach addresses the economic and environmental challenges associated with traditional fertilizer supply chains, which heavily rely on imports—particularly potassium, most of which the U.S. currently sources from Canada, Russia, and Belarus. The researchers plan to scale this technology to fertilize crops like tomatoes, which can produce significant yields even on a single acre. Additionally, the article highlights the emerging field of agrivoltaics, where solar panels are integrated with agriculture to improve growing conditions and protect crops from weather extremes. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is developing “tunable” organic solar cells through a system called BioMatch, which selectively