All Honda Hybrid and EV Batteries Gain 'Second Life' In New Recycling Initiative
Honda is expanding its partnership with Italian energy provider SNAM, to recycle end-of-life batteries from hybrids and electric vehicles across Europe.
Honda Motor Europe is expanding its battery recycling partnership with SNAM to advance the sustainable usability of Honda batteries at the end of their car life.
The arrangement means SNAM collect and recycle batteries from Honda's increasing number of hybrid and electric vehicles. SNAM will either prepare them for 'second-life' renewable energy storage uses, or if this isn’t possible due to damage, they will extract the valuable materials for recycling instead.
Honda and SNAM have worked together since 2013, to ensure the traceability of end-of-life batteries and dispose of them in accordance with European Union environmental standards.
The expansion of this agreement will allow SNAM to collect Lithium-ion and Nickel Metal Hydride batteries from across Honda's dealer network and Authorised Treatment Facilities across 22 countries, before analysing how suitable they are for recycling and processing them accordingly.
Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe, said: ‘As demand for Honda’s expanding range of hybrid and electric cars continues to grow, so does the requirement to manage batteries in the most environmentally-friendly way possible.
‘Recent market developments may allow us to make use of these batteries in a second life application for powering businesses or by using recent improved recycling techniques to recover useful raw materials which can be used as feedstock into the production of new batteries.’
Safe and low carbon transport will be utilised for the collection of used traction batteries.
On arrival, SNAM assesses which battery packs are valid for inclusion in a new energy storage device. These are then repurposed and made available by SNAM for domestic and industrial applications.
All round, the initiative seems very positive for our environment. Even when battery cells are damaged and unsuitable for ‘second life’ applications, materials such as cobalt and lithium can be extracted using hydrometallurgy techniques involving the use of aqueous chemistry.
These can be reused in the production of new batteries, colour pigments or as useful additives for mortar. Other commonly used materials including copper, metal and plastics are recycled and offered to the market for use in the production of a variety of applications.
Retailers can arrange and request the collection of end-of-life batteries for treatment and recycling through SNAM's dedicated online website. Collection can be arranged from centralised storage hubs within 15 working days, so that Honda retailers do not have to store batteries withing their premises.
The agreement applies to large ‘traction’ batteries used to power motors in Honda hybrid and electric vehicles, as opposed to smaller batteries used for ignition in petrol or diesel cars.
SNAM is supportive of Honda’s ambition to further their eco-conscious design of future batteries, so that the environmental sound treatment of these batteries at the end of their vehicle-powering life can be guaranteed.
We are excited about Honda’s drive towards a greener future.
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