The German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz officially commenced construction of a battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, on Friday.
The pilot factory will have an annual capacity of 2,500 tons and will provide material for the production of over 50,000 battery modules for new Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles.
The company will recycle batteries from test vehicles and from accumulators and could also increase production volume in the medium to long term, depending on the success of the pilot project.
The first phase of construction at the plant is expected to begin in December, with completion anticipated a few months later, depending on negotiations with the state.
The factory in Kuppenheim has already secured electricity from renewable sources, and its construction is being financed as part of a scientific research project by the German Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection.
– “We are sending an important signal of innovative strength in Baden-Württemberg and Germany in the field of sustainable electromobility,” said Jörg Burzer, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz responsible for production and supply chain management.
The Minister of Environment, Climate and Energy in Baden-Württemberg, Thekla Walker, expressed her pleasure that Mercedes-Benz is promoting the topic of the circular economy.
– “This is extremely important, given the limited availability of critical and sought-after raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel,” added Walker.
