Mercedes-Benz Opens Europe's First In-House Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

[{"selector":"#anim-a1e34e41-fe1a-48c5-b9b9-580db40d8d8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5eec0cd2-b6ea-4a0d-a36a-57d9a86f381e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.57772%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55d75b4d-1854-4dbc-bdfa-3b7af37fc0b0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-298e99a3-324e-4c1c-a736-82a00972272c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e3df88a-3cc4-460f-805f-9791c200f553","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b2b3679-dd9b-4e00-ae8e-152642d7e105","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-398894e1-6e16-4c63-8caa-364719ed8ec2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 402.01917%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: International Transport Forum (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Mercedes-Benz steps forward in sustainable manufacturing, inaugurating Europe’s first battery recycling plant with an advanced mechanical-hydrometallurgical process, targeting high recovery rates of lithium, nickel, and cobalt.

Located in Kuppenheim, Germany, the plant operates on 100% renewable energy and employs a hydrometallurgical process that cuts down energy usage by operating at 80°C – far below traditional pyrometallurgical methods.

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[{"selector":"#anim-7586a8db-0e5f-45ec-8ee3-032d8929a4f6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f3d232b7-f746-4538-bce6-bb135f656ca2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.57772%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0d351fb-0578-48b7-bbfb-d7fe0d9b7f62","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c177c030-d87f-4011-a9ab-0ba0d8a5c667","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 411.10993%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-22ea9be0-840a-431e-b51e-90869d729edf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7cbfe13a-e5dd-4e33-b6f0-5edb65d2ac18","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48086b8b-2912-4a84-a5db-41a5f82752e8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Free Malaysia Today With a footprint of 6,800 square meters, this facility can process 2,500 tonnes of battery materials annually, enough to supply over 50,000 new Mercedes-Benz EV battery modules.

The circular economy is essential for meeting our climate goals," stated Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the launch, emphasizing the industry’s commitment to sustainable raw material recovery.

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[{"selector":"#anim-b1cfa6de-98b1-4d29-9afe-4e006135830b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5fda9ce-ce32-452f-907e-43b0b0e28dff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.57772%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f07afe0-8fd3-4756-9b2d-d9253948c3a5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc16f417-2c2d-4a67-a3d5-b139e546ea67","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 411.10993%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-08a00c5f-77d1-45d2-a2a4-302fbe84f224","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14b0c210-adcf-4412-977c-2032712f8128","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6da1f1f8-5564-400d-93e1-4c7ef1de36e7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Photo Source: Library of Congress What does this new plant mean for Germany's role in the global shift to green automotive production?

With financial backing in the tens of millions of euros, the plant sets a standard for closed-loop manufacturing in the automotive sector, enhancing Germany’s sustainability leadership.

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A partnership with Primobius and research collaborations with German universities aim to improve logistics and reintegration for sustainable battery reuse, ensuring long-term supply chain resilience.

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[{"selector":"#anim-160146a8-dc81-4b23-8a1f-0232bb3abf51","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2db0d1e-3565-4194-a916-43b5ae2c1ddb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e2ee4e1-0250-4286-961a-5db59a15d01e","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-e57dd153-f35f-447d-aba8-003bd56d2135","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Mercedes-Benz and Factorial Energy Lead with First 106+Ah Solid-State Battery Delivery: What This Means for Future Electric Vehicles Learn more

Mercedes-Benz Opens Europe's First In-House Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

Located in Kuppenheim, Germany, the plant operates on 100% renewable energy and employs a hydrometallurgical process that cuts down energy usage by operating at 80°C – far below traditional pyrometallurgical methods.

The circular economy is essential for meeting our climate goals," stated Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the launch, emphasizing the industry’s commitment to sustainable raw material recovery.

With financial backing in the tens of millions of euros, the plant sets a standard for closed-loop manufacturing in the automotive sector, enhancing Germany’s sustainability leadership.

A partnership with Primobius and research collaborations with German universities aim to improve logistics and reintegration for sustainable battery reuse, ensuring long-term supply chain resilience.

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