Battery Recycling Processes

Innovation is bringing us new hope

Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe’s first in-house battery recycling facility in Kuppenheim, Germany, setting a new benchmark in sustainable mobility. This pioneering plant utilizes an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process that allows for the recovery of over 96% of essential battery materials, including lithium, nickel, and cobalt. Unlike conventional methods, this innovative process is energy-efficient, operating at low temperatures, reducing energy consumption and waste.

The Kuppenheim plant, co-developed with technology partner Primobius and supported by the German government, has an annual recycling capacity of 2,500 tonnes. It supplies materials for over 50,000 new battery modules, thus contributing to Mercedes-Benz’s broader vision of circular design and material reuse in electric mobility. The facility operates on 100% green electricity and includes rooftop solar panels generating over 350 kilowatts, reinforcing its commitment to carbon-neutral operations.

This investment demonstrates Mercedes-Benz’s leadership in sustainable automotive manufacturing and supports Germany’s goals for a resilient, resource-efficient future in electric mobility.