BMW Gandeng Redwood Materials Recycle Electric Car Battery

BMW of North America announced a collaboration with Redwood Materials. (Doc. BMW Group)

JAKARTA - One of the biggest concerns regarding the increasing popularity of electric cars (EVs) and hybrids is the fate of the battery after it can no longer be used. However, BMW has a solution to this problem which looks set to come soon.

In a recent press release, BMW of North America announced cooperation with Redwood Materials to recycle lithium-ion batteries from their electric cars, plug-in hybrids, and hybrid millids, including brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad.

With the help of Redwood Materials, a network of nearly 700 dealers, distribution centers, and other BMW-owned facilities will retrieve used batteries from vehicles. Furthermore, valuable materials such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and copper will be extracted and most will be returned to the battery supply chain.

Meanwhile, Redwood Materials claims their recycling process has a much lower environmental footprint than other competitors, with a reduction in energy usage by 80 percent, CO2 emissions by 70 percent, and water by 80 percent.

"Together with Redwood Materials, BMW laid the groundwork for the creation of a fully circular battery supply chain in the US," said Head of Sustainability, BMW of North America Denise Melville.

"We have said before that the future of BMW is the future of electricity, digital, and circulars, and this agreement brings us one step closer to achieving that goal," he added.

Redwood Materials itself was founded in 2017 by JB Straubel, co-founder of Tesla and former head of technology of the company. Over the past seven years, they have recycled batteries from various car brands such as Tesla, Ford, GM, Toyota, and Nissan, as well as other companies such as Amazon and Rad Power Bikes.

"Transition to electric mobility presents an extraordinary opportunity to rethink the way we manage batteries that power the future of clean energy," said Chief Commercial Officer at Redwood Materials Cal Lankton.

Redwood Materials currently has facilities in Reno, Nevada, and is building another facility in feasibility, South Carolina. This last location may be key to their partnership with BMW, as BMW owns a factory intensilburg and Woodruff where at least six electric cars and batteries will be assembled. The battery maker company, AESC, also owns a factory in Florence, SC.