Japan – Japanese automotive giant Honda is preparing to deliver what it proclaims as the world’s first mass production line for large-scale extraction of rare earth metals from hybrid batteries.
Joining forces with Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., the major car manufacturer has developed a new process to recover these metals from the nickel-metal of their hybrid vehicles at a claimed recovery rate of at least 80%.
The batteries are to be collected at Honda establishments across the globe and all extracted metals will be reused in new nickel-metal hydride batteries and various other Honda products where possible.
According to Honda, this initiative marks the ‘first step’ in commercialising the technology, as the company has plans to expand its rare earth metal operations further in the near future to ensure the issue does not remain one dictated by a ‘small-scale extraction process in controlled and experimental conditions’.
In previous years, the company had been applying a heat treatment to used nickel-metal hydride batteries and recycling nickel-containing scrap.
For more information, visit: www.honda.com
Don't hesitate to contact us to share your input and ideas. Subscribe to the magazine or (free) newsletter.
Loading ...
