BMW turns to battery recycling: How it recovers lithium and cobalt

German group starts partnership with specialists SK to recover raw materials used in electric cars

Photo by: BMW

By: Riccardo Ciriaco

Jan 14, 2025 at 4:45am ET

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New batteries from old materials - the BMW Group is working on this, forming a pan-European partnership with SK tes (a company specialising in technology lifecycle solutions) for the recycling of end-of-life electric car batteries.

The operations started already on 1 November and allow the German manufacturer to recover important raw materials such as cobalt, lithium and nickel and to 'return them to the value chain', according to the note released only now.

How battery recycling works

More precisely, 'high-voltage batteries from BMW Group development, production and markets in Europe that are no longer fit for use are to be handed over to SK tes in what is the first step towards an effective and sustainable circular economy for batteries'.

"SK tes then converts old batteries into high-quality metals that can be reintroduced into battery production. The latter process involves the mechanical shredding of the batteries, during which the metals are concentrated to leave a material called black mass. The precious materials, namely nickel, lithium and cobalt, are then recovered in a highly effective chemical process called hydrometallurgy. Among other things, these secondary raw materials will be used for the new Gen 6 powertrain'.

How BMW recycles electric car batteries

Photos by: BMW

The black mass formed during recycling

It is a process that 'has won numerous awards for sustainability and innovation around the world, from the Business Intelligence Group's Sustainability Service of the Year to the UN Global Compact's Apex Award. In 2026, it will be extended to the US-Mexico-Canada region.