Mercedes-Benz has opened its own EV battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany, which uses an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process to recover raw materials.

The plant has an annual capacity of 2,500 metric tons and an expected recovery rate of more than 96%. The plant carries out all steps, from shredding battery modules to drying and processing active battery materials. The multi-stage mechanical process sorts and separates plastics, copper, aluminum and iron. The downstream hydrometallurgical process extracts cobalt, nickel and lithium from the black mass for use in the production of new battery cells.

The technology partner for the facility is Primobius, a joint venture between German plant and mechanical engineering company SMS group and Australian process technology developer Neometals.

The plant 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. The project looks at the entire process chain for recycling, including logistics and reintegration concepts.

“The technology enables us to recover valuable raw materials from the battery with the highest possible degree of purity. This turns today’s batteries into tomorrow’s sustainable mine for raw materials. The new battery recycling plant strengthens the role of the Mercedes-Benz production network with vehicle and drivetrain plants in Europe,” said Jörg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz responsible for Production, Quality and Supply Chain Management.

Source: Mercedes-Benz