Toyota Chemical Engineering develops new recycling method for used batteries
Technology enables reuse of raw materials without combustion process
The most important things in brief
- More efficient use of rare metals such as cobalt or lithium
- Reducing emissions for a CO2 – neutral life cycle of vehicles
- Establishing a resource-saving circular economy in focus
Cologne. Toyota Chemical Engineering has developed a new recycling technology for high-voltage batteries. This allows CO2 emissions to be reduced in the recycling process and more raw materials to be reused.
The increasing spread of electrified vehicles means that more and more rare metals such as cobalt or lithium are needed. Since these are only available in limited quantities, the topic of recycling is becoming increasingly important – also in order to establish a resource-saving circular economy on the way to climate neutrality. In Europe, battery manufacturers are also obliged to process a fixed proportion of rare metals recovered from used batteries from 2031 onwards.
In conventional recycling methods, used batteries are first processed in an incineration plant before the rare metals are collected and further processed. However, some of the recyclable materials are lost during the incineration process and large amounts of CO2 are also produced .
In order for the life cycle of a car to be completely climate neutral, all emissions from production to decommissioning and recycling must be taken into account and gradually reduced. A crucial process for reducing CO2 emissions could be battery recycling without prior combustion. Toyota has already carried out promising verification tests in this area.
Together with Toyota, Toyota Chemical Engineering, an industrial waste processing company, developed the first recycling technology for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries back in 2010. Since then, the Handa plant in Aichi Prefecture has been collecting and recycling used batteries from hybrid vehicles. Until now, the conventional incineration method has been used for this. However, since autumn 2023, the company has been researching a new technology.
The electrolyte fluid in accumulators, which promotes the movement of ions, is highly flammable. To eliminate the risk of fire during processing, this electrolyte fluid is distilled and extracted.
The battery cells are then shredded, sorted and returned to the production process. The recovered parts are large pieces containing aluminum or iron or so-called “black mass” – a powder that contains various rare metals. The recovered raw materials are then further processed by partner companies for new battery production.
Yumi Otsuka, Chief Sustainability Officer at Toyota, says :
Of course, implementing such new processes also means high investment costs,
“But it is crucial to look at the life cycle of a car holistically. Take our mobility service KINTO, for example. Since we manage the vehicles ourselves, it is easier to ensure reuse and recycle the parts and materials. In addition, this way we have constant contact with our customers, which gives us new opportunities to offer them additional services such as upgrades and personalization. Therefore, a more comprehensive circular economy contributes both to lower CO2 emissions and to new business opportunities.”
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – Goals for sustainable development
Mobility for all: Toyota Motor Corporation develops and produces innovative, safe and high-quality products and services to offer everyone the joy of unrestricted mobility. We can only achieve our goals if we support our customers, partners, employees and the societies in which we operate. Since our founding in 1937, we have worked to create a safer, more sustainable and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company that develops technologies for connectivity, automation, sharing and electrification, we remain committed to our guiding principles and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In doing so, we want to contribute to a better world in which everyone can move freely.
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Toyota Chemical Engineering develops new recycling method for used batteries, source
