= Battery Recycle Station =

= A Project For Burning Man 2007 =

[ last updated February 15, 2007 ]

Proposal v2.0
February 15, 2007

Download this proposal: BatteryRecycleStation-Proposal.doc
Synopsis
Description
Philosophy
How & Where
Glow Sticks
Team Work
Financials
Breakdowns
Timeline
Media
Adaptations
Largest?
Personalities
Conclusion
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Large Version:
    19' tall x 10'10" wide = 100 times larger than a standard D cell battery (58mm x 33mm)

Alternatively, if budget, practicality, safety, or other issues require, we could make the smaller, less impressive version:
    9'6" tall x 5'5" wide = 50 times larger than a standard D cell battery (58mm x 33mm)

Around the giant battery will be slick graphic design displaying abundant research and documentation to educate and inform people how batteries work, the effects of batteries in landfills, how battery recycling works, recycling programs, environmental and activist resources, and all around good stuff to know. (We have yet to compile the information or complete the designs.) The exterior design and information will be printed on large canvases wrapped around the cylindrical structure. These canvases will permit some wind through negating chances of the structure blowing away.

The building materials are selected if they can be salvageable for reuse after this project regardless whether the project lasts for one year or many years. The project structure is designed to be temporary, collapsible, compact, as well as necessarily sturdy and will be severely staked and cross tied down to the ground internally so that external guy lines will not be required and external lines would not trip people.

Expired batteries dropped through several shaped holes will be collected during the Burning Man event then transported to Oakland for recycling. These collection holes will be shaped and sized to fit their corresponding battery types therefore being too small to accept unwanted larger foreign objects such as beverage cans. There will also be a larger space open at the bottom to receive larger and heavier batteries.

Participants will be able to check the energy level of their batteries on a meter before they deposit their expired batteries.

Rechargeable batteries can be charged at the station providing a participatory, useful, and generous service for those who require it. A sign will be posted to encourage Rechargeable Battery Swap participants to replace every recharged battery with a spent rechargeable battery of their own to charge for the next participant. They are not to take a battery unless they have left one and have reset the timer that indicates how long it has been charging. No 'free' batteries will be provided.

One idea needing further exploration is anthropomorphizing the battery by putting a face on it. A type of drawer could be incorporated where the mouth would be so participants would pull the drawer/mouth open to 'feed' the expired batteries to the structure.

The battery recharging, lighting, and sound systems will need electrical power. We intend to use, you guessed it - batteries. Actually, deep cycle automotive batteries to be specific and to be free of greenhouse gasses. These deep cycle batteries will be charged by solar panels and/or wind power mounted on the top of the battery and/or human generated power.

Also needing further exploration is research into the feasibility of human generated power. Participants could yank on ropes with pullies and counter weights (deep cycle batteries) hooked up to a generator system that resets itself with gravity, something like a grandfather clock. Ideally this mechanism would be connected to the drawer/mouth.

Recharging batteries will require the most power consumption of this project so the number of battery chargers will depend on how much electricity we can generate, store, and provide. However, if the Black Rock City planners could place the Battery Recycle Station(s) near the power grid to allow us energy access we could install as many battery chargers as we can get and install on the structures. Were the Battery Recycle Station(s) permitted to use the power grid we would not need the power generation and storage system dramatically decreasing the project's expenses.

The electricity generation and storage system will power the necessary night time illumination. EL wire and/or LEDs will effectively and efficiently provide bold visibility and entertaining sequenced animation patterns that will be beautifully stunning and react interactively when deposits are made as well as illuminate the rich graphic information presented on the outside of the Battery Recycle Stations structure.

Audio will be an exciting addition adding entertainment and interactivity. Sound will only be amplified as minimally necessary in order to be clearly audible in the area immediately surrounding the Battery Recycle Station. When a battery is deposited it will trip a switch activating sound effects and/or serious or humourous prerecorded sound bytes such as:

    "Thank you for recycling your battery."
    "Thank you for saving the planet, one recycled battery at a time."
    "Thank you for not destroying mother Earth."
    "Thank you for not mooping on the playa."
    "Thank you for not pooping on the playa."
    "Thank you for sticking it where the sun don't shine."
    "Thank you for cramming it in my hole."
    "Ungh - thank you."
    "Ooo - thank you."
    Etc.

When the Battery Recycle Station is not receiving deposits it may play prerecorded music and/or sounds and/or prerecorded sound bytes such as: "Recycle your batteries here at the Battery Recycling Station!" Perhaps live microphoned interactive noises from passing participants might be added for fun to make it strangely weird and entertaining.

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Along with the growing environmental responsibility and awareness around the world, we care a great deal about the prosperity of human kind and all life on Earth, both presently and into future generations, and we feel compelled to learn, share, and act responsibly during our borrowed time on Earth. In providing these helpful interactive services we aim to assist, entertain, inform, and inspire Burning Man participants to be more pro-active in recycling and environmental awareness in their day to day lives. Most importantly our message to participants is: Being responsible can be fun too.

With 10 visits to Black Rock City and countless burner events between us we are looking for more substance, meaning, and purpose to add to the good times. We're keen on not just talking about it or informing people about it - we're serious about actively minimizing our destructive footprint on Earth and making a progressive improvement with the spectacular Battery Recycle Station and service with effective impact and fresh style.

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We are eager to make one to three Battery Recycle Stations - ideal placement would be one at center circle and both keyholes. However, not having as much experience with utility demands or city planning as the Burning Man Organization we will happily default to whatever appropriate number and placement is chosen for the Battery Recycle Station(s). Obviously our primary goal is to provide fun interactive services, promote awareness, and offer do-able solutions.

Sympathetic to our project goals we will not use gas generators for our project. However, if our project were permitted access to the electric grid of Black Rock City (that generates power regardless with or without us) we would gratefully be able to provide battery recharging for as many batteries as possible with as many battery chargers as we can accumulate.

We intend to document and share the Battery Recycle Station project and its progress as it develops online (under Creative Commons copyleft) including ideas, notes, research, graphic designs, and do-it yourself instructions. In this way we hope that perhaps we might entice some regional groups to also participate, build their own station, and recycle their batteries at Burning Man and their own regional events. If enough regionals planned on joining our crusade perhaps there might be enough Battery Recycle Stations for every (or every other) o'clock on the Burning Man esplanade (or other appropriate mapping coordinates). This may be wishful thinking, but we're willing to dream that dream.

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The Battery Recycle Station will also promote reasons not to use glow sticks and reasons to use battery powered devices. Glow sticks by the thousands indeed have a beautiful effect but what a waste. Single-use, non-recyclable glow sticks contain semi-toxic byproducts mixing hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester. In the grand scheme of things, there are far worse non-recycled plastic issues, such as non-recyclable beverage cups and, of course, product packaging.

Of the "Three R's", reducing and reusing are more important than recycling and unfortunately this is one of those things where you can certainly do the right thing yourself and stop using glow sticks but trying to get other people to stop using glow sticks risks turning people off environmental concerns in general and that would be tragic with so many hopeful reduce/reuse/recycle things happening in other areas. For this reason, we hope to shock and amaze people into doing the right thing by showing them their own collective waste and excessive consumption.

In addition to the Battery Recycle Station(s), and with enough support, resources, energy, and time, we would like to build a Glow Stick Pre-Landfill Collection Station - a large transparent plastic tube in the shape of a giant glow stick. (Alternatively, if the giant glow stick idea doesn't work we could build a tall Plexiglas box with a large glow stick mounted out of reach on the top.) This transparent structure will have small holes for accepting expired glow stick deposits. There will also be educational glow sticks information emphasizing the fact that glow sticks are not recyclable and the entire collected contents of the structure will end up in a garbage dump or land fill.

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While we have not yet started recruiting an extended crew of participants we have absolutely no doubt that we will be able to muster more than enough assistance in our project due to our active social networking lifestyles and the fundamentally important and ever more popular effort to encourage environmentally friendly awareness and action.

Over the course of the next 6 months (February through August 2007) we will publicize our project, its resource requirements, donations, and volunteer efforts through every means possible such as our project website, http://WickedSunshine.com/Projects/BatteryRecycleStation/, Jack Rabbit Speaks, other email discussion and announce lists, ePlaya, Tribe, Craigslist, Friendster, MySpace, LinkedIn, and other forums and networking venues in addition to Ontario and Bay Area community events.

We do not have a complete crew at this early proposal time but here are the roles and skills needed:

Clean up won't be a problem because the rebar will be thoroughly pulled and the transport for the structure(s) will take the compacted collapsible structures that it brought to the desert along with all of the collected batteries and abandoned moop from the Battery Recycle Station area. There will be no burning of any components, structural or otherwise, and therefore no greenhouse gasses will be emitted.

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If this project meets as much enthusiasm in communities (Burners, environmentalists, etc.) as we feel for it then hopefully we won't require much financial assistance. However, in addition to organizing ourselves, creating awareness, and gaining assistance and advice from the BM Org, we wish to be certain all our bases are covered so we are submitting this proposal in hopes of obtaining advice, support materials, resources, and funding assistance if necessary.

We simply cannot do this project alone. We don't have the financial means, the electrical expertise, the manufacturing supplies, or the time to do everything ourselves. Nor do we wish to. We've already heard enthusiastic community support from those few we've shared the idea with and when we open it up wide with a broad "recruiting" and awareness campaign we expect much more participation and community support for this community project. As previously mentioned, with various online networking methods we will promote awareness about our project and its cause as well as seek assistance in the forms of volunteer work, resources, supplies, and funding. This will include contacting component retailers and producers, seeking aid from environmental and recycling agencies, applying for art grants and governmental funds, and coordinating a fundraising event (or few).

In addition to applying for a Burning Man Art Grant we will appeal to Black Rock City's Community Services for support which (in conjunction with or without a BM art grant) may ultimately be more appropriate for long term re-use. We would be happy and willing to lead this Battery Recycle Station project to build station(s) that could potentially be handed over to some BRC groups such as the Recycle Camp for stewardship and future management and development. Naturally we will be honoured to be involved in the future of this project if it were under the banner of Recycle Camp, but we also intend to continue on to develop other larger projects, not to mention we'll be living in Ontario, Canada again, so we don't wish to commit to anything too big for anything beyond Burning Man 2007 just yet - we would hate to disappoint.

There are several liquid variables that need to become concrete answers before we can clearly define a single budget. We do not have confirmation yet on what size and how many Battery Recycle Stations we'll build, or if we'll build the Glow Stick Pre-Landfill Collection Station, if we can find deals on transport and storage, or how much electric gear and/or other resources will be donated. As these questions find answers our goals will gain clarity and we can better develop a target budget by researching specific materials for their respective prices.

Even with a handful of questions begging for answers we do have a strong idea of the practical needs of this Battery Recycle Station project that can be broken down into these 4 food groups:

Structural - wood posts and boards, PVC pipes, rebar, wire cables, and lots of hardware (bolts, washers, nuts, etc.)

Ornamental - vinyl banner printing, shiny copper fabric, grommets, bungee cords, bungee balls, rope, zip ties

Electrical - deep cycle batteries, converter, human powered generation system (gears, ropes, pullies) and/or solar panels and/or wind generator, battery chargers, volt meters, timers, speakers, amp, sound system, switches, microphones, LEDs, EL wire, sequencers, connectors, wire, extension cords

Spatial - work space, transportation to and from the playa, long term storage

Bonus Project:
Glow Stick Pre-Landfill Collection Station - 4x4s, corner brackets, Plexiglas, screws / nuts & bolts, signage, lights, extension cords, rebar

We've given this proposal as much thought as we can and yet some surprises likely remain to be discovered in the process. Meanwhile we have break downs for several expense scenarios in order to get closer ideas of how much the various elements of this project might add up. Whether we build 1 large 10'x20' Battery Recycle Station, 3 small stations each 5'x10', or 1 large and 2 small, at least we have some estimated budgets to submit for consideration and discussion. Naturally with multiple stations the cost per station will be less due to shared resources (ie. transportation) as we also hope expenses will drop with donations of supplies, gear, and resources.

Based on the estimated budget numbers above, these projects could cost:

1 Small Battery Recycle Station:
     $16,072.96 - $16,562.94 (+ tax + item shipping -$2,500 truck refund)
     (same as $13,572.96 - $14,062.94 (+ tax + item shipping +$2,500 truck refund))
     (or $9,501.64 - $9,851.62 (+ tax + item shipping) without transport + storage + misc)

1 Large Battery Recycle Station:
     $20,732.05 - $21,870.43 (+ tax + item shipping -$2,500 truck refund)
     (same as $18,232.05 - $19,370.43 (+ tax + item shipping +$2,500 truck refund))
     (or $14,160.73 - $15,159.11 (+ tax + item shipping) without transport + storage + misc)

3 Small Battery Recycle Stations:
     $35,076.24 - $36,266.18 (+ tax + item shipping -$2,500 truck refund)
     (same as $32,576.24 - $33,766.18 (+ tax + item shipping +$2,500 truck refund))

1 Large + 2 Small Battery Recycle Stations:
     $39,735.33 - $41,573.67 (+ tax + item shipping -$2,500 truck refund)
     (same as $37,235.33 - $39,073.67 (+ tax + item shipping +$2,500 truck refund))

1 Large + 2 Small Battery Recycle Station + 1 Glow Stick Pre-Landfill Collection Station:
     $43824.46 - $45662.80 (+ tax + item shipping -$2,500 truck refund)
     (same as $41324.46 - $43162.80 (+ tax + item shipping +$2,500 truck refund))

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[HD* = Home Depot, Ottawa]

- vinyl banner printing
     (Kinko's (1.800.254.6567) - quoted @ ~ $8-10 per square foot
           - 6 colours CMYK 1200dpi outdoor 5' wide by any length, banner stitching)
     Large: $3840-$4800 for 480 sq ft = 5' x 96' (3 banners 5' x 32' (31' 5" rounded))
     Small: $1280-$1600 for 160 sq ft = 5' x 32' (2 banners 5' x 16' (15' 8.5" rounded))

- shiny copper fabric
     (to emulate the "copper top" (not by name) to be more battery-like than silo-like)
     (FabricLand - $40 per yard)
     Large: $440 for 11 yards (1 banner 5' x 32' (31' 5" rounded))
     Small: $120 for 3 yards, halved (1 banner 2.5' x 16' (15' 8.5" rounded))

- one grommet per foot + 2 bungee balls each
           HD* 1/2" grommet kit $14.37, incl 10
           HD* 1/2" 10 grommets $4.79
           HD* 3/8" grommet kit $10.79, incl 10
           HD* 3/8" 10 grommets $3.59
           50 pack 9" Texan LA1019 Canopy Bungees $11.99 - Amazon.com link
           25 pack 9" Ball Bungee Cords $9.99 - Amazon.com link
           25 pack 6" Northern Industrial Ball Bungee Set $7.99 - Amazon.com link
           9" Ball Bungee Cords, Black $0.36 - Amazon.com link
           9" Ball Bungee Cords, Black $0.24 - Amazon.com link
     Large: 296 grommets (4 banners x ((5' + 32') x 2))
           $153.28 300 1/2" grommets + kit ($14.37 + (29 x $4.79))
           $114.90 300 3/8" grommets + kit ($10.79 + (29 x $3.59))
     Large: 592 bungee balls
           $11.99 x 12 = $143.88
     Small: <222 grommets (3 banners x ((5' + 32') x 2))
           $119.75 230 1/2" grommets + kit ($14.37 + (22 x $4.79))
           $89.77 230 3/8" grommets + kit ($10.79 + (22 x $3.59))
     Small: 444 bungee balls
           $11.99 x 9 = $107.91

- chrome "battery contact" on top (large version 36"x12" / small version 18"x6")
     - simple design yet to be determined ~ $50 / $40

- battery deposit drawers (large version 4 / small version 2)
     - simple design yet to be determined ~ $110 / $60

- also (just in case) bring
     grommet maker + extra grommets, bungee balls, bungee cords, rope, zip ties, duct tape


Battery Recycle Station - Large Version Ornamental Total:
     ($3840-$4800 + $440 + $114.90-$153.28 + $143.88 + $50 + $110 = ) $4698.78 - $5697.16 (+ tax + item shipping)

Battery Recycle Station - Small Version Ornamental Total:
     ($1280-$1600 + $120 + $89.77-$119.75 + $107.91 + $40 + $60 = ) $1697.68 - $2047.66 (+ tax + item shipping)

[HD* = Home Depot, Ottawa]

Electricity Generation (yet to be determined) - $2,500
     - in discussion with Matthew Fassberg of Snow Koan Camp to lease solar panels
     - solar panels?
           - potentially panel-able areas (out of reach, instead of "copper top"):
                 large version, side surface area, top quarter: 5' x 30'
                 large version, top surface area, maximum: ~38.5'² (area = pi x radius squared)
                 small version, side surface area, top quarter: 3' x 15'
                 small version, top surface area, maximum: ~9.5'² (area = pi x radius squared)
     - wind generators?
     - human powered generators?
           - drawer (plywood, hinges, handle)
           - internal mechanical support structure (2x4's, bicycle frames?)
           - gears, pullies, anchors, rope
                 HD* 2 1/2" steel pulley w/ eye $7.96 for 3/8" rope - fixed or swivel eye same price
           - generator devices
     - Black Rock City power grid?

Electricity Storage + Supply (yet to be determined) - $500
     - deep cycle batteries
     - 12v DC to 120v AC inverter(s)
     - Black Rock City power grid?
     - extension cords
     - power strips

Electric Community Services (yet to be designed) - $500
     - volt meters (battery testers)
           HD* Commercial Electric battery tester $9.98
     - battery chargers
           HD* Energizer recharger $26.98
     - timers / stop watches?
     - reset buttons?

Audio System (yet to be designed) - $500
     - in discussion with Boris (TwistedToy.com) and Winokur JustinWinokur.com
     - laptop dust protection box
     - laptop
     - amplifier
     - 4 speakers minimum
     - midi switches (triggers)
     - microphones
     - wire
     - connectors

Lighting System (yet to be designed) - $2,000
     - will begin discussion with specialty light distributors ASAP
     - EL wire
     - sequencers
     - LED strings (rope lights, twinkle lights, etc.)
           HD* 15' LED $29.95
           HD* outdoor wall mount photo electric lighting control 1800 watts $10.98
     - wire
     - connectors
     - glue
     - zip ties

Battery Recycle Station - Electrical System Total: $6,000

Work Space
     Dutch Boy Studios, Warehouse #28, 4701 San Leandro St., Oakland
           with housemates: Sunshine & Janet, Teiwaz, Miles)
     $0 - (actually rent + utilities is $2100-$2400 / month)

Transportation
     SF Mini Storage, an authorized Budget Truck Rental Dealer
           1000 7th Street, San Francisco, California 94107
           415-252-0400 or 415-252-0300
           http://www.SFMiniStorage.com/truck_rental.htm
     15' full-size moving van
           - 750cu.ft./2,600lb. load capacity
           - gets 5-8 miles/gallon with a 37 gallon tank
     $2500 deposit
     $489.30 = $34.95/day x 14 days - (including insurance???)
     $609 = $.87/mile x 700 miles round trip
     ~$385-$525 (gas prices vary) = ~$2.75-$3.75 x 700 miles / 5m/g - (not including oil)
           average 2.738 for Feb 15,2007: http://www.CaliforniaGasPrices.com/
           AAA's fuel prices site: http://www.FuelGaugeReport.com/sbsavg.asp
     $3983.30-$4123.30 transportation total (-$2500 refund = $1483.30-$1623.30, + tax)
     - (rent out extra truck space?)

Storage
     Extra Space Storage (#1053)
           210 Fallon Street, Oakland, CA 94607
     drive-up access
     $199.00 monthly rent
     $2388.00 = $199.00 x 12 months - (+ tax)

Battery Recycle Station - Spatial Requirements Total: $6371.30 - $6511.30 (-$2500 refund, + tax)

[ x = have / - = need (find used) ]

x hammer
- sledge hammer
- rebar puller
x circular saw
x jigsaw
- jigsaw blades
x drill
- bits
x screwdrivers
x wrenches
x pliers
- 2 tall ladders
x magnet sweeper

[HD* = Home Depot, Ottawa]

- 8 4"x4" (to make a 4'x4'x8' box)
     HD* pressure treated 4"x4"x10' $12.88
     $12.88 X 8 = $103.04
- 8 3 "L" straps each outside corner
     HD* "L" strap 6"x6" $2.77
     8 x 3 x $2.77 = $66.48
- 8 3 corner angles each inside corner
     HD* corner angle 8"x8" $5.97
     8 x 3 x $5.97 = $143.28
- 5 4'x8'x1.2" sheets clear Plexiglas
     48"x96"x1/2" acrylic sheet $318.17 x 5 = $1590.85
     - ( http://InterstatePlastics.reachlocal.net/materials/acrylic.aspx )
     - (or borrow from Dickie?)
- 216 6" bolts
     120 = 1 every foot (4'+8')x2 x5 sides
     96 = 8 corners x (3 x 4 per inside corner + 3 x 4 outside per corner)
     HD* Grade 5 6" 1/2 Hex bolts $37.19/20
     $37.19 x 11 = $409.09
- 216 nuts
     HD* Grade 5 1/2 Hex nuts $5.99/25
     $5.99 x 9 = $53.91
- 432 washers
     HD* Grade 5 1/2 washers $5.39/27
     $5.39 x 16 = $86.24
- drill bits
- signage
     print at home + weatherproof in large ziplocks?
- 4 8' LED rope lights
     HD* 15' LED $29.97
     $29.97 x 8 = $239.76
- solar panels
     $1000
- deep cycle battery
     $150
- inverter
     $150
- extension cord
     $30
- 24 3' 'candy-caned' rebar
     HD* 1/2"x3' $2.77
     24 x $2.77 = $66.48

Glow Stick Pre-Landfill Collection Station Total: $4059.13 (+ tax + item shipping)

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In order for this project to be successful the Battery Recycle Station needs a basic schedule of when vague and specific events should occur.

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Environmental awareness issues are so important so if time and energy permits we may pursue media to broaden the coverage. Naturally we will do our best to comply with any requirements of the Burning Man Organization and remain in close contact with Action Grrl and Media Mecca if this develops.

Media institutions we intend to approach are the National Film Board of Canada (NFBC), the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), the CHUM group including Bravo! Channel, Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, PBS, BBC, and other film/TV sources. With their cooperation and with other friends we may even find a way to produce our own little documentary.

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If the temporary (strong but collapsible) playa Battery Recycle Station "experiment" is successful in Black Rock City we will propose to urban centers (San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, Austin, New York, etc.) that we be allowed to perform an urban experiment and temporarily set up the Battery Recycle Station in their cities to see what sort of response we get.   If the response is favourable we will actively campaign these cities to take the lead and take up the challenge to fund, design, and build their own permanent (industrial tamperproof) Battery Recycle Stations for their communities at large.

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When built, this battery structure may break some sort of world record - however - we're not sure what kind of record since technically it's not an operational battery. Perhaps it will simply seem to be the largest faux D cell battery in the world.

Other world's largest batteries:

- The world's largest battery creating 3.6 volts was an engineering accident created when a 12-tower radio broadcasting array half mile long by 200 feet near Rockwall, 25 miles east of Dallas, Texas, when unjacketed transmission and sampling lines were buried in acidic soil creating the 164 acre battery.

- In the Guinness Book of Records, near Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, operates the world's largest battery energy storage system (2,000 square metres and weighs 1,300 tonnes), a grid-connected system combining 13,760 nickel-cadmium battery cells to generate up to 46 megawatts of power for about 7 minutes, or 27 megawatts of power for 15 minutes in the event of a blackout. The system provides instant, reliable power until a back-up generator can come online, eliminating the need for idling generation. The cells are recyclable at the end of the system's 20-year life.

- Ford Motor Company's Parts Redistribution Center in Romulus, Michigan has the world's largest battery room for charging and swapping out batteries for a diverse fleet of almost 400 electric fork lift trucks in a plant with 73 acres under roof.

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