Mercedes-Benz has announced the opening of its new battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany—a facility designed to process and reclaim critical materials from used batteries, enabling the production of over 50,000 new battery modules each year. As the first OEM to implement an in-house battery recycling operation, Mercedes-Benz is working to create a sustainable, closed-loop system that addresses the growing demand for responsible raw material sourcing.
Sustainable Battery Recycling: A Thoughtful Approach to Resource Management
At the core of this new facility is a sophisticated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process that achieves a 96% recovery rate of essential materials such as nickel, lithium, and cobalt. These materials, once extracted, are refined to meet high purity standards, supporting the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainable manufacturing.
Funded partly by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the facility is part of a larger research initiative with three German universities, exploring every aspect of the battery recycling process. From logistics and dismantling to reintegration into the supply chain, this collaborative research is aimed at refining recycling processes for greater efficiency and sustainability.
Meeting New EU Battery Regulations with an Eye on the Future
The establishment of the Kuppenheim facility comes as the European Union introduces new battery regulations, requiring specific recycled content in electric vehicle batteries by 2026, including minimum levels of cobalt, lead, lithium, and nickel. With the new facility, Mercedes-Benz is well-positioned to meet these requirements, ensuring compliance and reducing its reliance on newly mined resources.
Partnership with Primobius for Enhanced Recycling Capabilities
The development of the Kuppenheim plant involved a partnership with Primobius, a venture between German engineering company SMS Group and Australia-based Neometals. The facility uses a multi-stage process to recycle used batteries, including shredding modules, drying active materials, and separating plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. A hydrometallurgical stage further refines the extracted materials, ensuring high purity suitable for new battery production.
Supporting a Circular Economy for Batteries
Mercedes-Benz’s battery recycling facility signals a long-term approach to resource management. Currently, the plant has an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes, and the company plans to scale operations as research progresses.
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