A hybrid vehicle is an automobile that combines a gasoline engine and a battery-powered electric motor. Originating in an exhibition in Paris in 1900, hybrid cars slowly gained popularity until they became mainstream in the early 2000s.

Today, there are different hybrid vehicles, ranging from lightweight, full, plug-in to extended range. They come in various car and sport utility vehicle (SUV) models from well-known brands. Hybrid cars allow eco-driving while guaranteeing vehicle performance. They can travel around 13,500 miles per year and are ideal for short trips and long distances.

Although hybrid vehicles offer great features and benefits, they don’t last a lifetime. Batteries usually last between 10 and 20 years and eventually die out. If you bought a hybrid car ten years ago, the batteries must be nearing the end of their lifespan. So what do you do when that time comes?

You might want to think about how to dispose of your hybrid car in the future, because you wouldn’t want to keep an eyesore in your garage. Even worse, the battery can leak and cause harm to you and the environment.

Car wreckers to the rescue

Only one thing comes to mind when it comes to effectively disposing of end-of-life vehicles: car wreckers. They scrap cars using sustainable practices. But are they ready to take hybrid cars that are more complex than regular gasoline-powered automobiles?

Fortunately, companies such as Hamilton car wreckers manage vehicles that run on hybrid power sources or otherwise. They subject old and even damaged cars to a material recovery process that involves depollution, parts recovery, dismantling and recycling.

Depollution refers to draining fluids from a vehicle and removing toxic parts in older cars. In a second step, the professionals recover the usable parts for resale purposes. The cars are then stripped of glass, plastic, electronics and metals for recycling. What’s left of the car is flattened or crushed into a cube.

Although this process applies to all vehicles, recycling hybrid cars requires a more extensive procedure. Many of its components carry risks and challenges unique to a hybrid vehicle that only skilled car wreckers can handle.

hybrid car engine

Recycling of hybrid vehicles

In New Zealand, vehicle buyers love money for Taupo cars are stepping up their efforts as more and more hybrid cars reach the end of their life. While hybrid cars have countless benefits when driven, recycling them carries potential risks for workers and the environment.

Some of the parts car wreckers should carefully disassemble and recycle into a hybrid vehicle include:

Hybrid vehicles are distinguished by the lithium-ion batteries that power them. These batteries carry a high voltage. Additionally, battery cells also contain highly flammable and toxic electrolytes.

Improper disconnection of batteries and their components can cause burns, breathing difficulties, serious injury and even death. Since they are highly charged, they can also cause electric shocks and even fires or explosions.

The treatment of hybrid car batteries therefore presents several risks for the workers and even for the recovery facility. As such, car wreckers and other recycling facilities must train their staff in the proper handling of these vehicles. They must also provide sufficient space and sufficient ventilation to avoid untoward incidents.

If they do not have the proper equipment to process batteries, they must ensure proper transportation procedures. Appropriate recycling facilities can process recovered plastics and metals in precious materials.

In addition to high voltage batteries, hybrid vehicles also include parts that power the engine and other electrical components. Car wreckers should be careful when dismantling these parts to avoid electrocution and other potentially fatal incidents.

Trained professionals understand how hybrid cars work and know their components inside out. So they can disconnect the parts effectively. They also wear personal protective equipment to ensure their safety.

Powerful engines allow hybrid vehicles to travel at considerable speeds. Unfortunately, such efficacy can pose challenges for end-of-life treatment.

Hybrid electric motors contain strong magnets that affect nearby electronic devices and equipment. Removing them from a hybrid vehicle requires careful handling in a location free from interference.

Last mile

In short, car wreckers can deal with your end-of-life hybrid vehicle as long as they have the proper personnel and equipment. Several parts require careful disconnection and disassembly that only trained professionals should handle.

The removal and recycling of hybrid car batteries is a major concern in the car wrecking industry. It takes considerable technology to separate the battery cells and electrolytes from the metals and plastics in the battery. The same goes for electrical components and motors which require sufficient space and proper knowledge for proper recycling.

Take your hybrid to the wreckers

If you find that your hybrid vehicle is nearing the end of its journey, it is best to start looking for reputable car wreckers early on, as not all car wreckers can handle these vehicles properly.

This article gives you an overview of how car wreckers deal with these modern automobiles so that when the time comes for you to scrap your hybrid car, you know where and how to properly dispose of it.