BMW is investing in a groundbreaking programme to transform the way it handles end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries, by building a €10 million ($10.4 million) state-of-the-art cell recycling facility that will revolutionize the process of reclaiming and reusing EV raw materials in construction. The newly established German plant aims to revolutionise production costs for electric vehicles (EVs) while driving the company closer to a self-sustaining battery cell manufacturing loop.
BMW is pioneering “direct recycling,” a groundbreaking approach where recovered raw materials are not restored to their original form but instead reused in BMW’s own battery cell production cycle at its competence centers. The innovative approach replaces conventional energy-hungry processes for extracting rare minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, nickel, and copper, enabling BMW to quickly regain access to these essential materials while reducing costs and accelerating their reuse.
The direct recycling method involves prematurely discharging used batteries, then opening battery cell cans and carefully removing electrodes to facilitate efficient recovery of valuable materials. Once the electrodes have dried, the mixture is shredded to separate the active materials from the conductive foils, allowing for potential recycling and reuse of these components.
Developed by BMW Group scientists at facilities in Munich and Parsdorf, Germany, the tactic will soon be implemented on a larger scale at the newly built manufacturing unit. Once finalised, the company anticipates recycling up to mid-teen tonnes of battery cell materials annually.
A state-of-the-art recycling centre is to be constructed in Kirchroth, situated within the Straubing-Bogen district of Lower Bavaria. Construction plans are already underway and set to commence in the latter half of 2025. Once the new process is completed, a thorough evaluation and validation of our near-series recycling methods will commence, according to BMW.
As of 2022, BMW has been exploring innovative alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. The company has successfully developed a technology that allows for the use of vegetable oil as a sustainable and eco-friendly fuel source. This pioneering move marks a significant milestone in the automotive industry’s efforts towards reducing its carbon footprint.
