Yahoo Autos Can BMW and Redwood Materials solve the EV battery waste problem for good?
One of the main concerns surrounding the increasing popularity of EVs and hybrids has been the future of their batteries once they are depleted. It seems the solution may come earlier than expected thanks to a recent announcement from BMW.
Why BMW's partnership with Redwood Materials is a game-changer for EV sustainability
In a press release, BMW of North America announced their partnership with Redwood Materials to recycle lithium-ion batteries from their electric, plug-in hybrid-electric, and mild hybrid BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad vehicles.
With the help of Redwood Materials, BMW’s network of almost 700 dealerships, distribution centers, and other facilities will remove the spent batteries from vehicles, extract minerals like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper, and return the majority of them to the battery supply chain. Redwood Materials claims its recycling process has a significantly lower footprint than competing companies, reportedly “reducing energy by 80%, CO2 emissions by 70%, and water by 80%.”
Who is Redwood Materials anyway?
Redwood was founded in 2017 by JB Straubel, a Tesla co-founder and ex-chief technology officer of the company. For the past seven years, their recycling resume includes car brands like Tesla, Ford, GM, Toyota, and Nissan as well as Amazon and Rad Power Bikes.
BMW
The company currently has a location in Reno, Nevada, with one under construction in Charleston, South Carolina. That latter location may prove key to this partnership, as BMW has plants in both Spartanburg and Woodruff where at least six EVs and their batteries will be assembled. The company manufacturing those batteries, AESC, also has a plant in Florence, SC.
BMW is investing heavily in the EV space
The German automaker currently offers five electric models, the i4, i5, and, i7 sedan as well as the iX SUV. The cheapest of the bunch, the i4, starts at $57,900 with a range of 283 to 307 miles while the executive i7 goes big in size and price starting at $105,700 with 274 to 321 miles of range. Three more electric models are expected to hit the scene in the next two years. The iX3, a redesign of the compact i3, a 3-series EV to slot below the i4, and the i5 M, a performance version of the i5 with a reported 1136 horsepower.
BMW
The future is looking even greener
The partnership between the two companies signals a move in the right direction for the future of EVs. Largely touted as the better alternative to fossil fuels, this latest development might quell the naysayers who often quoted the lack of battery recycling as a major worry. That’s not to say that this fixes the problems of battery development which have been reported to be energy-intensive and rely on illegal labor in developing countries. That said though, this gives us hope that we’ll figure it all out sooner rather than later.
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