BMW of North America has reached an agreement with Redwood Materials to recycle lithium-ion batteries in all of its electric vehicles, the companies announced today.
The German automaker said it will instruct its dealers to return old batteries from all its electric models, including full electric, hybrid, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid models from brands including BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce. Car, sent to Redwood for recycling.
Redwood, founded by Tesla co-founder and former chief technology officer JB Straubel, will process end-of-life batteries at its two facilities. One plant is in Reno, Nevada, and the other, still under construction, will be in Charleston, South Carolina, near BMW’s Spartanburg and Woodruff plants. The automaker’s battery maker AESC is also based near Florence, South Carolina.
Redwood would not disclose which specific materials from BMW will be recycled, but in past deals the company has processed cathode and anode materials, key components of lithium-ion batteries. The company converts these materials into “high-quality” battery materials, which it can then sell back to a number of partners to make new electric vehicle batteries. Redwood said approximately 95-98% of these materials are ultimately recycled and returned to the supply chain.
Redwood praised BMW as a “pioneer in electrification” and mentioned the i3 electric hatchback launched in 2013. Produce at least 6 all-electric models. BMW currently sells a number of electric models in the United States, including the i7, i4 and iX SUV.
Redwood Materials was founded in 2017 by Straubel. In addition to breaking down waste from BMW’s battery manufacturing process, the company also recycles electric vehicle batteries from Tesla, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Nissan, Specialized, Amazon, Lyft, Rad Power Bikes and others. Redwood also recycles stationary batteries, such as its storage substations in Hawaii.
Many of the batteries in the first wave of electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S and BMW i3, have just reached the end of their useful life and need to be recycled. After receiving the batteries from various partners, Redwood begins a chemical recycling process that strips and refines the associated elements, such as nickel, cobalt and copper.
