Bosch, the first fully automated battery disposal plant in Europe – Corriere.it

The scarcity of raw materials in Europe necessary for the construction of new batteries goes against the growing demand for electric cars to achieve the objectives for the ecological transition established by the European Union. This is why it is essential to develop a strong circular economy to recover essential elements such as lithium, cobalt and nickel for the production of new batteries. There is high interest from car manufacturers and other companies in the sector.

The German multinational Bosch, through its subsidiary Bosch Rexroth will supply Battery Lifecycle Company, a joint venture between TSR Recycling and Rhenus Automotive, for the first fully automated system in Europe (in Magdeburg, Germany) for the disassembly of used battery modules and their recycling. Bosch estimates that, by 2030, electric cars will account for around 70% of all new cars registered in Europe. Hence the choice to invest in development of machinery, equipment and software that are able to completely discharge old accumulators and dismantle them for the recovery of raw materials. We reuse what we have already used and recover the raw materials explained STefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Bosch — . Bosch will contribute its technical expertise,” added Hartung. Bosch will present industrial battery recycling technology at the Hannover Messe (April 17–21, 2023).

On the site of Battery Lifecycle Company, which tests used batteries from various manufacturers, it will only take fifteen minutes to discharge eight lithium-ion batteries. In fact, the workpiece trolleys of the new plant will each transport up to 150 kg of material at a speed of 18 meters per second. A much faster rate of recycling when compared to the manual process currently in use, where it takes up to 24 hours to fully discharge a battery. Furthermore, the energy recovered from used batteries is not wasted but is recovered and used for the functioning of the recycling system.
The new plant aims to recycle 15,000 tons of battery materials with start of plant operations scheduled for summer 2023. What we do today will determine the course of tomorrow – explained Steffen Haack, CEO of Bosch Rexroth -. The batteries that are currently installed in vehicles will reach the end of their life in 10-15 years. We must take advantage of this time window to build the necessary recycling capacity.