Jordan’s self-taught mechanics revive spent EV batteries
Informal repair shops innovate amid rising electric vehicle use and lack of recycling infrastructure
AMMAN, Jordan (MNTV) — As electric vehicle (EV) sales surge across Jordan, a growing number of self-taught mechanics are finding creative ways to repurpose and restore used EV batteries, helping to fill the gap left by the absence of formal recycling infrastructure.
In a quiet Amman neighborhood, reported Climate Change News, one homeowner has built a makeshift energy storage system using 20 reconditioned Tesla battery modules connected to rooftop solar panels, providing nearly all his household’s power needs.
“It’s a hobby, but it cut my electricity bill dramatically,” he said, adding that he sourced the batteries from a local workshop specializing in refurbishing Tesla cells.
These workshops — often led by untrained yet skilled mechanics — are part of a fast-growing informal sector driven by Jordan’s rapid EV adoption.
According to the US International Trade Association, electric vehicles now account for more than half of all vehicle imports in the country.
The trend supports Jordan’s climate goals, which target a 31 percent cut in emissions by 2030, but it has also triggered concerns over how to safely manage end-of-life batteries.
Among those leading the informal trade is Shadi Jameel, who runs a bustling auto repair shop in Amman’s Al Bayader industrial zone. “We work exclusively with Tesla batteries,” Jameel said. “We repair module disconnections, extend lifespan, and sell refurbished packs for household or solar use.”
With an estimated 150,000 EVs on Jordan’s roads and numbers rising, the supply of spent batteries is only expected to grow.
A study by the Circularity Hub for Spent EV Batteries (C-Hub) at the German Jordanian University forecasts nearly 200,000 depleted lithium-ion batteries by 2035, underscoring the need for formal management systems.
Currently, Jordan lacks official recycling or reconditioning facilities. “Because most of these operations are informal, there’s little oversight on how widespread or safe they are,” said Fadwa Dababneh, director of C-Hub.
Two recent explosions involving used batteries have heightened safety concerns, prompting the Environment Ministry to tighten focus on hazardous waste controls.
Mahmoud Zboon, who heads the ministry’s Hazardous Waste Department, said depleted batteries are sometimes exported to China and Germany for recycling, but many end up in domestic landfills, risking toxic leakage into soil and groundwater.
Private firms such as ExelX, a UAE-based company operating a branch in Amman, are now exploring safer and more efficient alternatives.
“We’ve extended the life of more than 500 Tesla batteries in three years,” said Ali Al-Zyoud, ExelX’s chief technology officer. “Our technology restores balance and prevents deterioration — and it’s far cheaper than replacement.”
However, industry experts say high startup costs and a lack of standardization remain barriers to scaling up. C-Hub has recommended establishing a national tracking system for EV batteries and incentivizing formal private-sector investment to reduce environmental risks.
“Bringing informal workshops into the official system would improve both safety and quality,” Dababneh said. “These self-taught innovators have proven what’s possible — now the country must ensure their work is safe and sustainable.”
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