There is talk of a “next gen” battery in which less cobalt is used in the make-up of the lithium battery due to difficulties the mining of cobalt, of which political and economic reasons are at the forefront. However that is still years away from inception. The reality of making a cobalt free battery is unlikely, however to use less would be desirable of a cost level for companies, so the cost does not get passed onto the customer.
The recycling of electric batteries as a whole has been a hot topic, as we are constantly trying to be a more sustainable planet. As electric vehicle become more popular the recycling concept should become the next stage of research and development for the longevity of all batteries used for electric vehicles.