Mercedes-Benz opens its own recycling facility for EV batteries
Mercedes-Benz has opened its first electric vehicle battery recycling plant in Germany, aiming to recover over 96% of materials from used batteries, operating on solar energy with a capacity of 2,756 tons.
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Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated its first electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany, utilizing an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical method. This facility aims to recover over 96% of valuable minerals and metals from used EV batteries. The plant processes battery modules by shredding them and separating materials such as plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron, followed by a hydrometallurgical process to extract cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Powered entirely by solar energy, the plant has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons. Mercedes-Benz emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in the automotive industry, particularly in light of ethical sourcing concerns and the need for resilient supply chains. The company plans to leverage insights gained from this facility to increase recycling volumes in the future. In the U.S., several automakers are collaborating with Redwood Materials to recycle EV batteries, highlighting the growing interest in battery recycling as a means to enhance sustainability and resource efficiency. Despite the longevity of EV batteries, which can last 8-10 years with proper management, the recycling industry is still developing, with many batteries being repurposed for secondary uses before recycling.
- Mercedes-Benz has opened its first EV battery recycling plant in Germany.
- The facility aims to recover over 96% of valuable materials from used batteries.
- It operates entirely on solar energy and has an annual capacity of 2,756 tons.
- The plant represents a step towards sustainable practices in the automotive industry.
- Other automakers in the U.S. are partnering with Redwood Materials for battery recycling initiatives.
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5 commentsCan someone explain what it is that makes batteries wear out to begin with, and what has to be added back to make them work again after they’re shredded into “black mass”?
Like using EV batteries for household battery backup.
They have enormous capacity, even when their EV range has been diminished.
I also think that car manufacturers get "green PR" from recycling, but they really just want to snap up cheap metals/minerals when making batteries.
But I kind of wonder if they are opportunists and it would not only be better for the environment for people to reuse the batteries, but also the people wanting to reuse would easily outbid for used batteries, given the chance.
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