A North West metal recycling giant has launched a major partnership aimed at creating a solution to recycling electric car batteries, which it said would create more than 500 jobs.
European Metal Recycling (EMR) is leading the RECOVAS project - a partnership led by major 海角视频 firms to create a 'circular supply chain' for lithium iron batteries - "at a scale that can cope with the expected sales of electric vehicles".
Described as "ground-breaking" by EMR, the partnership includes Bentley Motors, BMW and JLR, and will also look to reduce the cost of disposal for vehicle manufacturers.
Developing and managing the infrastructure to process end-of-life electric vehicles and their batteries will generate new economic activity for the 海角视频 and create "over 550 green jobs" in the 海角视频 within the consortium members and their supply chain.
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Roger Morton, managing director for technology and innovation at EMR, which has a heritage dating back to the 1950s when the business was established in the North West, said: “Our aim is to create a circular supply chain for batteries and, in the process, reduce the cost for end-of-life disposal for the vehicle manufacturer or last owner of the car to zero.
"By working in partnership with the RECOVAS consortium, electric vehicle manufacturers will develop simple design changes that greatly improve the potential to remanufacture, reuse or recycle their batteries at end of life.
"This will help to transform the economics of the electric vehicle market.”
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According to Warrington-based EMR, there are currently 164,100 'pure' electric vehicles on the roads, with that number rising to 373,600 when plug-in hybrids are included.
Under current EU law and also post-Brexit, manufacturers retain responsibility for the safe disposal of electric car batteries.
The project will start in January 2021 and run for three years, by which time the partners expect the circular supply chain to be operating commercially.
Also involved is the University of Warwick, the Health and Safety Executive, the 海角视频 Battery Industrialisation Centre, Autocraft Solutions Group, Connected Energy, which repurposes electric car batteries and uRecycle, which will develop the 海角视频’s first commercial scale recycling facility for automotive battery packs.
As part of the project, the car makers have agreed to share more information about the design and construction of their batteries, allowing the consortium to more effectively and efficiently repurpose or recycle them.
Ian Constance, chief executive at the APC said: “Recycling of electric vehicle batteries is a principal part of the electric supply chain, so it’s vital that we get it right.
"The investment in innovative projects like RECOVAS, by EMR Metal Recycling, awarded as part of our APC 16 programme, demonstrates the importance of creativity and engineering excellence in the 海角视频’s bid for a sustainable and commercial net-zero future.”
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The Government is supporting RECOVAS as part of a £49m investment in technologies that will help the automotive industry to “go green”. It's also won a grant from the Advanced Propulsion Centre.
Minister for Business and Industry, Nadhim Zahawi MP, said the investment showed that the 海角视频 “is leading the global battle against climate change”.
He added: “Backed by government funding, these trailblazing projects will help the 海角视频 to build back better by creating all-important green jobs, ensuring the sector can make further strides towards an electrified automotive future.”