Mercedes-Benz to Launch In-House Battery Recycling for Electric Vehicle Production

Mercedes-Benz has opened what it claims to be the first battery recycling plant from an automaker that will recycle EV batteries in-house and use them in future vehicles, reports Electrek.

The plant, located in southern Germany, will allow for a 96% recycling rate from Mercedes, using an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process that preserves raw materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

Mercedes has argued its hydrometallurgical process is more energy efficient and less wasteful than the pyrometallurgy seen in Europe today.

All steps of the recycling process are handled within the plant: shredding battery modules, drying and processing active battery materials, and sorting and separating plastics, copper, aluminium, and iron.

Through a multi-stage chemical process, cobalt, nickel, and lithium are extracted to be used in the creation of new battery cells.

With an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes, the plant is expected to provide materials for over 50,000 battery modules to be used for new Mercedes EVs, with plans to increase production volumes and expand its recycling capabilities in the future.