Beside the charging piles in residential areas, we often see replaced electric vehicle batteries being recycled uniformly. These seemingly "retired" batteries have not actually reached the end of their lives - they are continuing to shine in new positions through cascade utilization.

A lithium battery is like an energy storage tank. As the number of uses increases, its ability to store electricity will gradually decrease. Take electric vehicle batteries as an example. When their capacity drops to 70%-80% of the original, it is difficult to meet high-intensity demands such as long-distance driving and fast charging. It's like a marathon runner who can't finish the whole course but is more than enough for short-distance jogging. Discarding them directly at this time is not only a waste but also causes environmental pollution. Cascade utilization is precisely a wise solution to this problem.

The process of cascade utilization is like giving the battery a "physical examination and re-employment". Workers will first conduct a comprehensive inspection of the recycled batteries, screen out the cells with qualified performance, and eliminate the completely scrapped parts. Then, the qualified cells are recombined, equipped with a protection circuit and a shell to form a new battery pack. After this "transformation", the original electric vehicle battery is transformed into an "energy source" for low-power devices.

These "second-time employed" lithium batteries have a wide range of application scenarios. In photovoltaic power stations, they store solar energy during the day and release electricity at night to ensure a continuous power supply; in community smart trash cans, they provide power for sensors and automatic opening and closing devices; even in the equipment of camping enthusiasts, we can see them powering small refrigerators and lighting equipment. Compared with new batteries, cascaded lithium batteries have lower costs and can reduce the mining of mineral resources, truly achieving a win-win situation of "environmental protection" and "economy".

Just like retired teachers can go to the community to tutor children and retired athletes can transform into coaches, the cascade utilization of lithium batteries gives "old things" a new lease of life. This is not only a technological innovation but also a vivid practice of the concept of resource recycling - with the help of science and technology, every bit of energy can be fully cherished, and every item can play its maximum value in a suitable position.