BMW will recycle old EV batteries with Redwood Materials

BMW of North America struck a woody to recycle lithium-ion batteries from each of its electrified vehicles with Redwood Materials, the companies announced today.

The German automaker said it would instruct its dealers to nonstop aged batteries from each of its electrified models, including battery-electric, hybrid, mild hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles from brands similar BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce, to Redwood for recycling.

Redwood, which was founded by Tesla cofounder and ex-chief exertion serviceman JB Straubel, volition grip the end-of-life batteries astatine its 2 facilities. One installation is successful Reno, Nevada, and the other, which is inactive nether construction, volition beryllium successful Charleston, South Carolina — somewhat adjacent BMW’s Spartanburg and Woodruff plants. The automaker’s artillery compartment manufacturer, AESC, is besides located adjacent successful Florence, South Carolina.

Redwood wouldn’t stock which circumstantial materials from BMW volition beryllium recycled, but successful past deals, the institution has processed cathode and anode material, which are cardinal ingredients successful lithium-ion batteries. The institution takes the materials and transforms them into “high-quality” artillery materials that tin past beryllium sold backmost to its galore partners to marque caller EV batteries. Around 95–98 percent of these materials are yet recovered and returned to the proviso chain, Redwood says.

Redwood praised BMW arsenic a “pioneer successful electrification,” citing the instauration of the i3 hatchback EV successful 2013. (BMW aboriginal discontinued the i3.) The automaker has said that by 2030 it volition person astatine slightest six all-electric models nether accumulation successful the US. BMW presently has respective electrical models for merchantability successful the US, including the i7, the i4, and the iX SUV.

Many of the batteries from those first-wave electrical vehicles, similar the Nissan Leaf, the Tesla Model S, and the BMW i3, are conscionable present reaching the extremity of their lifespan and are successful request of recycling. After receiving batteries from its assorted partners, Redwood begins a chemic recycling process successful which it strips retired and refines the applicable elements, similar nickel, cobalt, and copper.