On January 13, BMW Group has announced a new partnership with SK tes, to establish a closed-loop recycling system for lithium-ion batteries across Europe. The initiative, launched in November 2024, aims to recover valuable materials such as lithium and nickel from used batteries and reintegrate them into the production of new batteries. This program builds on the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd.(BBA)’s successful recycling framework introduced in 2022.
The recycling process involves mechanically shredding old lithium batteries, concentrating valuable metals into a material called “black mass.” Using a hydrometallurgical process, essential materials like lithium are extracted and reused in manufacturing, including BMW’s upcoming GEN 6 drive train.The new recycling system will process high-voltage lithium batteries from BMW’s development, production, and market operations across Europe. SK tes’s award-winning battery recycling process, recognized by the Business Intelligence Group’s Sustainability Service of the Year to the UN Global Compact’s Apex Award, will play a pivotal role in the partnership.
BMW’s collaboration with SK tes strengthens its efforts in promoting the circular economy. These secondary materials will contribute to BMW’s increased resilience in supply chains and reduce environmental impact. BMW also highlighted its broader sustainability strategy, focusing on Re:Think, Re:Duce, Re:Use, and Re:Cycle principles, which aim to transform end-of-life vehicles into raw materials for new cars. BMW also plans to extend the recycling program to the USA-Mexico-Canada region by 2026.
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