Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe’s first mechanical-hydrometallurgical recycling plant for batteries at Kuppenheim in southern Germany. The car giant says the expected material recovery rate of the facility will be more than 96%.
The plant has an annual capacity of 2 500 tonnes. Recycled materials will feed into the production of more than 50 000 battery modules for new all-electric models.
Congratulations
The opening ceremony was attended by Chancellor Olaf Scholz who said batteries were an essential component of an electric future for vehicles.
‘To produce batteries in a resource-conserving and sustainable way, recycling is also key. I congratulate Mercedes-Benz for its courage and foresight shown by this investment in Kuppenheim. Germany remains a cutting-edge market for new and innovative technologies.’
Mercedes’ technology partner for the battery recycling factory is Primobius, a joint venture between German plant and mechanical engineering company SMS group and Australian process technology developer Neometals. The scheme is receiving funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action as part of a scientific research project with three German universities.
Pioneer
Mercedes chairman Ola Källenius said the company was a pioneer in automotive engineering.
‘Europe’s first integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical battery recycling factory marks a key milestone towards enhancing raw-materials sustainability. Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe.’
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