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Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Brian Skalovsky, Director of Battery Recycling at Cox Automotive, to unpack one of the least understood—but most critical—parts of the EV conversation: what actually happens to batteries after they leave the vehicle. Skalovsky explains why battery service speed is one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption, how Cox’s EV Battery Solutions division can turn three-week repair nightmares into 48-hour turnarounds, and why keeping EV owners in their vehicles is essential for long-term brand trust.

The conversation goes deep into battery longevity, recycling, and the emerging circular economy behind EVs. Skalovsky breaks down how battery packs are repaired, repurposed, or recycled into “black mass,” how recycled materials can feed directly back into new battery production, and why the U.S. still lacks enough domestic processing capacity. From fleet electrification to shifting battery chemistries and the real risks of second-life energy storage systems, this episode delivers a grounded, inside look at how EV sustainability actually works—beyond the headlines.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 – Live From the DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026

0:34 – What a Director of Battery Recycling Actually Does

0:50 – Why Fast Battery Repair Is Critical to EV Adoption

1:43 – The Service Experience That Pushes EV Owners Away

2:26 – How Long EV Batteries Really Last

2:47 – Why Battery Technology Keeps Getting Better

3:53 – How EV Batteries Are Broken Into Three Paths

4:19 – Why Recycling Capacity Can’t Keep Up Yet

5:12 – Fleet Electrification and Why It Works So Well

5:38 – How Battery Chemistry Is Changing

6:34 – Solid-State Batteries and the Long-Term Horizon

6:59 – Second-Life Batteries and the Insurance Problem

8:11 – Why Recycling Back Into Batteries Is the End Goal

Connect with Brian Skalovsky at https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-skalovsky-6aa8a5354/

Learn more about Cox Automotive's EV Battery Recycling at https://www.coxautoinc.com/ev-battery-solutions/

Public Policy Day 2026 is brought to you by Saferide. Learn more at Saferide.ai: https://www.saferide.ai/

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