British engineer and YouTuber Chris Doel successfully built a 50-volt, 2.5-kilowatt battery pack using 500 discarded disposable vapes. The invention powered an early-2000s electric car for 18 miles, highlighting the severe environmental and energy loss caused by the normalization of single-use lithium-ion devices.
The “Frankenstein” Vape Battery Experiment
In a striking demonstration of both ingenuity and environmental critique, British engineer Chris Doel transformed 500 recovered disposable vape pens into a functional automotive power source. Documenting the process on his YouTube channel, Doel utilized 3D printing to combine the individual vape cells into a single 50-volt, 2.5-kilowatt battery pack.
The custom pack was installed into a Reva G-Wiz, a low-powered electric car from the early 2000s. The results were remarkable: the discarded vape batteries not only started the vehicle but provided enough sustained power to drive it for 18 miles, reaching speeds of up to 40 mph.
“I can’t believe this car has just accepted this crazy Frankenstein battery that I’ve just slapped in it,” Doel remarked during the test drive.
Exposing the E-Waste Dystopia
Doel’s experiment serves as a powerful indictment of modern consumer habits. He pointed out the absurdity of a society where purchasing single-use devices containing fully rechargeable lithium-ion cells—and then throwing them away—has become normalized.
The scale of the problem is massive. According to a 2024 report by Wired, the world generates 137 billion pounds of e-waste annually, of which only 25% is recycled. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that improperly discarded e-waste, particularly items containing lithium-ion batteries like vapes, leaches toxic chemicals into the soil and water. This poses severe, long-term health risks to vulnerable populations, including children and pregnant women.
Expert Verdict: A Call for Responsible Disposal
While Doel’s 40-mph vape-powered car is an extreme example of upcycling, it clearly demonstrates the untapped energy potential currently rotting in landfills. To combat this environmental crisis, consumers must stop treating lithium-ion devices as regular household trash. Proper disposal and recycling of electronic products are essential to mitigate toxic exposure and reclaim valuable, reusable energy resources.
