Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1537616
that to meet their targets for recy- cled content. Those would be really strong outcomes. SERI cannot solve the sus- tainability problem. We're cham- pioning the cause, but it will only be solved when everyone add to their part of the puzzle. Together, we can continuously improve. Every year, we want to show that we are getting ahead of the curve and being proactive, rather than reactive, to the prob- lem. That's how we start prevent- ing waste instead of managing it. Scanlon: Marcy, you asked us about what connects us to SERI. I think the partnership completes us. They allow the Association to be truly circular in our represen- tation of the electronics manu- facturing value chain, not just the front end of design and manu- facture. Corey and SERI are key because, as experts in circular- ity, they can reach the other end of the value chain and, together, we close the loop. Dehmey: The commonality is that we are trying to solve the same problem. I also feel that it's impor- tant to mention the power of IPC standards. If it's done properly, a standard can apply anywhere and across boundaries, and can help to harmonize our approach. That's a good sentiment. Do you have any final thoughts? Dehmey: We should talk about the term, "waste." If the world is really committed to circularity, a true circular economy doesn't have waste in it. Every waste is food for something else. Let's change our words and start talk- ing about "resources." We need to talk about "waste" as our wasted opportunities within the full product lifecycle. To me, that is the "e-waste." Our ultimate goal should be to eliminate all waste throughout the product lifecycle. That's how we get to circularity, and circularity ends up creating a sustainable future for everyone. From a purely business view- point, waste costs money. If we can be more efficient and more resourceful, it makes good eco- nomic sense for business. That's a good note to end on. Thank you, both. PCB007 28 PCB007 MAGAZINE I JULY 2025 Strengthening the competitiveness of the American transportation industry relies on developing domesti- cally produced electric vehicle batteries that enable rapid charging and long-range performance. The en- ergy density needed to extend driving distance can, however, come at the expense of charging rates and battery life. By integrating a new type of current collector, a key battery component, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have dem- onstrated how to manufacture a battery with supe- rior energy density and a lasting ability to handle ex- treme fast charging. This enables restoring at least 80% of battery energy in 10 minutes. By using less metal, particularly high-demand copper, the technol- ogy also relieves strain on U.S. supply chains. A current collector conducts electricity from the active material within the battery to an external cir- cuit. Current collectors are generally made of metal foil, with one at each pole of the electrode: copper for the anode and aluminum for the cathode. The met- als add weight to the battery, increasing the overall weight of the car and the amount of energy required to move it. The novel current collector, made by industry partner Soteria Battery Innovation Group, is a poly- mer sandwiched between very thin layers of cop- per or aluminum. ORNL researchers found that this new component can reduce current collector costs by 85%, pack in 27% more energy for longer trips, and maintain significant energy density after a thou- sand cycles, even under extreme fast charging con- ditions that can degrade battery materials more rap- idly over time. The new current collector performs as well as its conventional counterpart at about a quar- ter of the weight, enabling an EV to travel farther on the same charge. (Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory) New Component Reduces Cost, Supply Chain Constraints for Fast-charging EV Batteries