Mercedes-Benz has made a substantial investment of tens of millions of euros in a new recycling facility, designed to recover over 96 percent of battery materials. This innovative plant encompasses the entire recycling process, from shredding battery modules to drying and refining the extracted materials.
The facility employs a specialized chemical extraction technique to isolate critical metals, which will subsequently be repurposed for new battery cell production. Mercedes claims that the energy consumption and waste generation at this plant are significantly lower compared to other recycling operations across Europe.
The launch of this factory brings a glimmer of hope to Europe’s EV battery sector, which has been grappling with a downturn in electric vehicle sales. Northvolt, a prominent Swedish battery manufacturer central to Europe’s objective of competing with China in EV cell production, recently announced a reduction of 25 percent in its workforce due to financial challenges and diminishing demand.
Mercedes, along with other German automakers, has faced tough times recently, leading to a downward revision of its sales forecast, particularly in the critical Chinese market.
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