German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe's first battery recycling plant with an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process making it the first car manufacturer worldwide to close the battery recycling loop with its own in-house facility.

The recycling plant in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, creates a genuine circular economy. Unlike existing established processes, the expected recovery rate of the mechanical-hydrometallurgical recycling plant is more than 96 percent. Valuable and scarce raw materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt can be recovered – in a way which is suitable for use in new batteries for future all-electric Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The company has invested tens of millions of euros in the construction of the new battery recycling plant and thus in the value creation in Germany. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister Thekla Walker visited the plant for the opening ceremony in Kuppenheim, Baden.

Ola Kaellenius, Chairman of the Board of Management, Mercedes-Benz Group said, “Mercedes-Benz has set itself the goal of building the most desirable cars in a sustainable way. As a pioneer in automotive engineering, Europe's first integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical battery recycling factory marks a key milestone towards enhancing raw-materials sustainability. Together with our partners from industry and science, we are sending a strong signal of innovative strength for sustainable electric mobility and value creation in Germany and Europe.”

Ola Scholz said, “The future of the automobile is electric, and batteries are an essential component of this. To produce batteries in a resource-conserving and sustainable way, recycling is also key. The circular economy is a growth engine and, at the same time, an essential building block for achieving our climate targets! I congratulate Mercedes-Benz for its courage and foresight shown by this investment in Kuppenheim. Germany remains a cutting-edge market for new and innovative technologies.”

The luxury carmaker has joined hands with Primobius, a joint venture between German plant and mechanical engineering company SMS Group and Asutralian process technology developer Neometals, which is its technology partner for the battery recycling factory.

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 partners are thus making an important contribution to future scaling of the battery recycling industry in Germany.

Integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical

For the first time in Europe, the Mercedes-Benz battery recycling plant covers all steps from shredding battery modules to drying and processing active battery materials. The mechanical process sorts and separates plastics, copper, aluminium and iron in a complex, multi-stage process. The downstream hydrometallurgical process is dedicated to the so-called black mass. These are the active materials that make up the electrodes of the battery cells. The valuable metals cobalt, nickel and lithium are extracted individually in a multi-stage chemical process. These recyclates are of battery quality and therefore suitable for use in the production of new battery cells.

Unlike the pyrometallurgy established in Europe at present, the hydrometallurgical process is less-intensive in terms of energy consumption and material waste. Its low process temperatures of up to 80deg Celsius mean it consumes less energy. In addition, like all Mercedes-Benz production plants, the recycling plant operates in a net carbon-neutral manner. It is supplied with 100 percent green electricity. The roof area of the 6800 square-metre building is equipped with a photovoltaic system with a peak output of more than 350 kilowatts.

The Mercedes-Benz battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim has an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes. The recovered materials feed into the production of more than 50,000 battery modules for new all-electric Mercedes-Benz models. The knowledge gained could help scale up production volumes in the medium to long term.

Holistic approach

Mercedes-Benz takes a holistic approach to the circularity of battery systems and considers three core topics: circular design, value retention and closing the material loop.

With its Design for Circularity approach, the OEM is taking the entire battery technology value chain into account from the outset. At the Mercedes-Benz eCampus in Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, which opened in 2024, circular thinking flows into the development of new battery cells. Battery production for electric Mercedes-Benz vehicles is net carbon-neutral in battery factories on three continents. Local battery production is a key factor for the success of the Mercedes-Benz sustainable business strategy.

In line with circular thinking and to conserve resources, the company offers reconditioned batteries as spare parts for all its electric vehicles. In addition, its Mercedes-Benz Energy subsidiary has established a successful business model with large-scale stationary storage applications. Batteries that are no longer suitable for vehicle use can enjoy a second life as part of an energy storage system.

Jorg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group, responsible for Production, Quality & Supply Chain Management stated “We are systematically deepening our expertise in the battery value chain. Following the opening of the Mercedes-Benz eCampus for development of new battery cell chemistries in Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, we are now sustainably closing the raw materials loop in Kuppenheim. The innovative 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.”

Thekla Walker MdL, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy Baden-Wurttemberg said, “Battery recycling is of great importance to Baden-Wurttemberg as a state with such a strong automotive sector. Closing the loop on the value chain reduces dependencies, increases resilience in times of crisis and can smooth peaks and troughs in the availability of raw materials. Mercedes-Benz is a pioneer in this respect: With the integrated battery recycling plant, Mercedes-Benz has developed a sustainable approach for dealing with limited resources and is therefore making a valuable contribution to a truly circular economy. We are proud that in this federal state of innovators, we are also at the forefront in this field.”
 

Montra Electric, a brand owned by Tl Clean Mobility Pvt Ltd, has praised the Government of India for the continuation of subsidy support for the electrification of last-mile mobility under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) Scheme.

Roy Kurian, Business Head, Montra Electric (Last Mile Division), said, “Montra Electric sincerely thanks the Ministry of Heavy Industry, Govt of India for ensuring continuity of the subsidy support to last-mile mobility. This crucial support will help the industry navigate challenges and further speed up the shift to electric last-mile solutions.”

The PM E-DRIVE Scheme was launched on 29 September 2024. The scheme was put into effect on 1 October 2024 and will continue until 31 March 2026. Furthermore, EMPS-2024, the number of vehicles and the spending under EMPS-2024 for e-2w and e-3w being implemented from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024 are being subsumed under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme; hence, the scheme's effective time will be two years.

Pure EV, one of India's leading electric two-wheeler manufacturers, has entered into a strategic partnership with Arva Electric Vehicles Manufacturing LLC, a subsidiary of Clarion Investment LLC, with an aim to expand its presence across the Middle East and African regions.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pure EV will provide Arva Electric with a first shipment of 50,000 of its flagship models, the eTryst X and ecoDryft, over the next couple of years. Pure EV's position in these developing markets is anticipated to be cemented when the supply rises to 60,000 units per year after this initial phase. Pure EV will be Arva Electric's key technology partner in addition to supplying motorcycles, offering knowledge and assistance all the way through the distribution process. Pure EV will uphold all intellectual property rights pertaining to the bikes in order to safeguard unique technology as they increase their market share.

Dr Nishanth Dongari, Founder and Managing Director, Pure EV, said, “Our commitment to innovation and user experience ensures that we provide market-ready offerings and meet the growing demand for electric mobility solutions. This partnership not only aims to enhance sales but also to foster sustainable mobility solutions in regions where electric motorcycles are rapidly gaining traction, marking a significant step towards expanding our footprint in Middle East and African markets. By leveraging our strengths and capabilities together with Arva Electric, we are poised to make a significant impact on the electric vehicle landscape globally.”

Aniyan Kutty, Managing Director, Arva Electric Vehicles Manufacturing LLC, said, “We are pleased to partner with Pure EV, as their expertise in R&D and cutting-edge technology helps in building efficient and reliable 2W products. Both the companies are committed to promoting eco-friendly mobility solutions with an aim to reduce carbon emissions and support environmental sustainability in these regions.”

Atul Greentech Private Limited (AGPL), a subsidiary of Atul Auto Limited, has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a premier Government of India enterprise, to expand the reach of electric mobility in India.

Under this agreement, AGPL will offer its cutting-edge electric three-wheelers, ENERGIE and ENERGIE2, through HPCL's huge HP GAS distribution network, taking a key step towards encouraging sustainable mobility in the country. AGPL's ENERGIE and ENERGIE2 electric three-wheelers are intended to fulfil the rising need for sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options in cities and rural regions. HPCL's support gives AGPL a strong distribution infrastructure, enabling for easy integration into urban and rural markets where cost-effective, sustainable mobility is critical.

Dr Vijay Kedia, Director, Atul Auto, said, “This partnership marks a pivotal moment in our journey towards a sustainable future. At AGPL, we are deeply committed to driving innovation in electric mobility, and our collaboration with HPCL is a testament to that vision. This partnership not only strengthens our product reach but also aligns with India’s growing emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and fostering clean energy solutions. We are confident that this collaboration will not only deliver exceptional value to our customers but also contribute meaningfully to India’s transition to greener transportation.”

Chinese automotive major BYD, one of the world’s leading new energy vehicles (NEV) manufacturer, has attained a new production milestone.

The company recently rolled out its 10 millionth electric vehicle from its Xiaomo Production Base in the Shenzhen-Shanwei Special Cooperation Zone. The milestone was achieved during its 30^th anniversary celebration.

Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President, BYD recalled the journey of the company from being a start-up with 20 employees to now having around one million staff worldwide.  The company claims it is now the first automaker in the world to reach the EV sales milestone. What’s interesting to note is that the EV maker had crossed 5 million production milestone in 15 years, with the next 5 million production being attained in just 15 months.

Feng Ji, Founder & CEO of Game Science, the man behind Black Myth: Wukong, a global hit in the gaming industry took possession of Denza Z9, the 10-millionth vehicle produced by BYD.

Going forward, BYD has announced it will invest CNY 100 billion (USD 14 billion) towards developing intelligent technologies that integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) with automotive systems, driving comprehensive upgrades of its entire vehicle lineup.