Mercedes-Benz has launched Europe’s first battery recycling plant using an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, marking a significant step toward raw material sustainability.
The plant boasts a recovery rate of over 96%, ensuring that valuable materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt are efficiently reclaimed for use in new batteries.
With this process, the facility can generate enough recycled materials to produce over 50,000 new battery modules annually, supporting Mercedes-Benz’s all-electric vehicle production.
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This milestone represents Mercedes-Benz’s holistic approach to battery circularity, with tens of millions of euros invested in the facility. The plant was opened in partnership with Primobius, a joint venture between SMS group and Neometals, and involves collaboration with several German research institutes.
Unlike traditional methods, the hydrometallurgical process used in this plant is more energy-efficient and eco-friendly, operating with low temperatures of up to 80°C and using 100% green electricity.
The 6,800-square-meter facility is also equipped with a solar photovoltaic system. This recycling approach reduces dependence on primary resources while ensuring that batteries can be recycled into new materials with minimal environmental impact.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Baden-Württemberg’s Environment Minister Thekla Walker attended the opening, praising the innovative effort.
The plant’s research and development will play a crucial role in scaling battery recycling and reducing reliance on raw materials, helping to meet climate targets and support sustainable growth.
Mercedes-Benz’s broader strategy emphasizes battery circularity through design, value retention, and material loop closure. The Kuppenheim facility forms part of a comprehensive effort, which includes reconditioned batteries, second-life energy storage systems, and net carbon-neutral battery production at plants worldwide.
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