Battery recycling for electric cars - The key to sustainable mobility

The number of electric vehicles is also increasing on Europe's roads. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research have determined in a study that around 2.5 megatons of new batteries will be needed in the EU by 2030. In contrast, up to 1,500 kilotons of lithium-ion used batteries and battery components will need to be recycled annually by 2040. As with battery manufacturing, Asia is leading here. In China, for example, the battery recycling industry is already significantly larger than in Europe, so practical experience with processes and facilities is available.

Europe could develop an efficient system

Nevertheless, Europe could still develop into a leading market for green and highly efficient battery recycling. German and European mechanical and plant engineering, with its experience in industrializing innovative technologies and implementing processes that meet the most demanding limits, can be a key partner in achieving these political, ecological, and economic goals. "For this, Europe needs plant technology that, depending on the speed of market growth and the global share of European recycling capacities, will require investments of around 6.6 billion euros by 2040," explains Christoph Neef, who researches battery topics at Fraunhofer ISI and coordinated the study.

New jobs in battery recycling

According to the growth forecasts determined in the course of the study, around 570 jobs worldwide could be created in mechanical and plant engineering by 2030, and even up to 5,300 jobs by 2040 for the provision and service of plants for European battery recycling - with good prospects for European mechanical and plant engineering to participate significantly in this development.

If a European recycling industry can be built, it is possible to cover more than 40 percent of the cobalt and more than 15 percent of the lithium, nickel, and copper requirements for battery production in Europe with recyclates by 2040, making it more independent from the world market.

What does that mean?

Now efficient and innovative technologies are needed. This could make Europe the leading market for green and highly efficient battery recycling – environmental protection and resource scarcity leave no other choice.