The company Mercedes-Benz has announced the opening of an innovative plant for recycling old batteries in Kuppenheim in southern Germany. According to the company, this project creates a "true circular economy" for the brand's electric vehicles.
At the new plant, Mercedes-Benz aims to recover over 96% of valuable and rare materials used in batteries for fully electric cars. These include lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which will enable the annual production of more than 50,000 new battery modules. The recycling process utilizes a hydrometallurgical method to extract active materials from electrodes. Through a multi-step chemical process, valuable components are separated, and battery modules are crushed and sorted into plastic, copper, aluminum, and iron.
The Chairman of the Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Ola Källenius, stated that the company is committed to producing desired vehicles in an environmentally sustainable manner. He noted that this plant is the first in Europe to employ an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical method for battery recycling, marking a significant milestone in enhancing resource sustainability. The project is being implemented in collaboration with partners from industry and the scientific community, highlighting an innovative approach to sustainable electric mobility.
The recycling process at the facility is entirely powered by green electricity, most of which is generated by solar panels on the building's roof. The plant has the capacity to recycle up to 2,500 tons of batteries per year.
In its effort to conserve as many resources as possible, Mercedes-Benz already offers refurbished batteries as spare parts for its electric vehicles. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz Energy is developing large-scale storage systems that allow for the reutilization of old battery packs that are no longer suitable for use in vehicles.