Mercedes-Benz has taken a significant step towards sustainability by inaugurating Europe’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany. This groundbreaking facility boasts an annual capacity to recycle 2,500 tonnes of materials, which will contribute to the production of approximately 50,000 batteries for the company's electric models.
Ola Kallenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz, hailed the plant as a \"key milestone towards enhancing raw-materials sustainability.\" The initiative aligns with broader efforts to establish a circular economy, where materials are reused and recycled to minimize waste and environmental impact.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who attended the opening ceremony, emphasized the importance of recycling in the EV sector. \"The circular economy is a growth engine and, at the same time, an essential building block for achieving our climate targets,\" Scholz stated.
With the European Union's deadline to phase out the sale of fossil fuel-powered cars by 2035 approaching, the focus on producing and recycling electric car batteries within the bloc has intensified. Recycling not only reduces waste but also enhances European sovereignty in the battery sector, as critical materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium are predominantly sourced from outside the region.
Mercedes-Benz has invested tens of millions of euros into the new plant, which is capable of recycling over 96 percent of battery materials. The facility encompasses the entire recycling process, from shredding battery modules to drying and processing the materials. Through a chemical process, critical metals are individually extracted and repurposed to create new battery cells.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the recycling process at Kuppenheim is more energy-efficient and generates less waste compared to other plants in Europe. This innovation not only supports the company’s sustainability goals but also contributes to the broader objectives of reducing the environmental footprint of electric vehicles.
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Mercedes opens Europe's first electric car battery recycling plant
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