Porsche announced a new pilot project to test a closed-loop raw material cycle using materials recovered from high-voltage vehicle batteries. The automaker said its long-term plan includes collaborating with external partners to establish a recycling network for those batteries.
Three Phases
The pilot project will progress in three phases, beginning with mechanically shredding development vehicle batteries to create a “black mass” mixture that contains cobalt, lithium, manganese, and nickel.
Porsche then plans to refine the black mass and extract raw materials for battery production. The final phase will involve producing battery cells with a set amount of recycled materials and evaluating their compatibility with Porsche’s vehicles.
Aligning with Circular Economy Goals
The pilot project aligns with Porsche’s circular economy strategy, which promotes sustainable materials use, such as vehicle component remanufacturing and waste avoidance. Porsche Procurement Board Member Barbara Frenkel stated that the effort aims to reduce the automaker’s reliance on volatile raw material markets.
Preparing for Upcoming Regulations
The project will also help the company prepare for anticipated EU regulations requiring batteries to contain 85% lead, 16% cobalt, 6% nickel, and 6% lithium recovered from post-consumer or battery manufacturing waste by 2031. By 2036, the nickel and lithium figures will rise to 15% and 12%, respectively.
Image credit: Porsche
