Car Battery Days Dresden and Schwarzheide: Strong Start

The first car was an electric vehicle: In 1881, Gustave Trouvé invented a type of electric carriage. Christine Grosse Lembeck, Vice President, Business Management Recycling at BASF Battery Materials once again provided a refreshing introduction: EVs were originally present on the streets of Chicago, New York, London, and Paris at the very beginning of the automotive industry. The problem even back then: EVs were too expensive, and lacked range. Then came electric starters and gas stations, and the combustion engine took over. However, they knew nothing about CO2 back then—an issue that would catch up with us some 100 years later. Her appeal: We must have the courage to keep going! She underscores this with Churchill’s quote:

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: what counts is the courage to continue.”

Because transformation is not only difficult, but also always an opportunity, even if it is not always easy. The alternative would be: Stagnation! And that can be no option! The replacement of horse-drawn carriages also did not happen overnight. That’s why she called for more long-term thinking and courage. After all, we are already on the way!

“It takes time, courage, and – us!”

Developments take time, which brings her to the topic of battery recycling at BASF. By 2024, the first production of black mass will start in Schwarzheide. One can almost feel her impatience, as she adds: The EU Battery Regulation is a good base, but not enough. More needs to happen! That’s why she calls for becoming pioneers again! Black mass in Schwarzheide?

A brief excursus: BASF established a facility in Schwarzheide for the large-scale recycling of black mass from batteries. The investment strengthens the BASF site in Schwarzheide with the production of battery materials and battery recycling. The location is ideal for battery recycling activities, as there are many electric car manufacturers and cell producers in Central Europe. The investment will create about 30 new jobs in production, with commissioning starting in early 2024.

The Beginning is Black Mass

The production of black mass is at the beginning of the recycling process and is based on the mechanical treatment of batteries. The “black mass” obtained in this way contains large amounts of the key metals used to make cathode materials: lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. In the next step, the black mass is further processed hydrometallurgically. BASF also plans to establish a corresponding large-scale facility in the middle of the decade.

“With the investment in a large-scale battery recycling plant for black mass, we are taking the next step to establish the entire value chain of battery recycling at BASF. This allows us to optimize the entire recycling process and reduce the CO2 footprint,” explained Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, Head of the Catalysts division at BASF, and added:

“The closed loop from used batteries to cathode materials for new batteries supports our customers along the entire battery value chain, reduces dependence on mined raw materials, and enables a circular economy.”