Carmaker Unveiled New Pilot Li-Ion Battery Recycling Plant

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Leading German automaker Volkswagen has unveiled its first recycling pilot plant for used electric car batteries. The pilot plant, set up in Salzgitter, Germany, aims to boost recovery of valuable raw materials from lithium-ion batteries. The plant was officially opened on 1^st February, 2021.

According to press release by Volkswagen Group Components, the plant will recover wide range of raw materials including lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt, in addition to aluminum, copper and plastics. Over the long term, the plant aims to achieve a recycling rate of over 90%. It will process only those batteries which cannot be used for other purposes. The plant will initially process approximately 1,500 metric tons of batteries per year. The processing capacity will see significant boost over the coming years.

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The plant makes use of an innovative and carbon-dioxide saving recycling process that does not require blast furnace melting. The technique grounds individual parts into granules in the shredder, which are then dried. It uses hydrometallurgical processes to separate and process individual materials.

Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Technical Division commented that the future-oriented project is expected to make major contribution to climate protection and raw material supply.