Portwest Automotive Magazine

DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY

Legislative Spotlight: The regulation regarding CO2 emission standards for new passenger cars and vans in the European Union entered into force in April 2023. The EU aims to cut emissions from cars by 55% and from vans by 50% by 2030, compared with 2021. From 2035, this legislation states that all new cars that come on the market cannot emit any CO2. This is to ensure the transport sector can meet its target to become carbon-neutral by 2050. However, the path to a cleaner, greener future is being embraced by key industry players, driven by the need to meet the expectations of national governments and environmentally conscious consumers.

The transport sector and the automotive industry are under the spotlight regarding sustainability. The negative impacts of climate change have put sustainability, Environmental Social Governance (ESG), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at the forefront of decision makers’ minds. Creating a more sustainable world has never mattered more. The automotive industry produces around 80 million vehicles annually, requiring 112 million tons of materials and accounting for over 10% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, according to McKinsey’s analysis.

INDUSTRY CASE STUDY

The Need for a Comprehensive Recycling Route The UK’s growing reliance on electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage solutions necessitates a robust recycling framework. Presently, the country lacks the capability to refine and recycle critical materials like cobalt, nickel, lithium, and manganese from end-of-life batteries. This gap in infrastructure poses a risk to the sustainability and economic viability of the EV and energy storage industries. Establishing a complete battery material recycling route is vital to ensure the continuous supply of these valuable metals, reducing the dependency on foreign sources, and enhancing the circular economy. Cellcycle’s Innovative Recycling Technology Cellcycle’s state-of-the-art recycling process leverages advanced technologies to fully recycle used lithium-ion batteries efficiently. One of the standout innovations is the development of the Bio-based process, a method that uses biological agents to extract valuable metals from battery materials. Cellcycle is developing one of the UK’s first in-house Lithium battery recycling processes.

This environmentally friendly technique not only reduces the environmental impact of traditional recycling methods but also maximises the recovery of critical materials. While the specifics of the Bio-based process are proprietary, it represents a significant advancement in sustainable battery recycling. What are the Economic and Environmental Benefits? By establishing one of the first industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling plants in the UK, Cellcycle aims to create a sustainable loop of battery production and recycling. This facility will play a crucial role in managing the lifecycle of vehicle batteries, ensuring that the materials used in their production are continually recycled and reused. This not only conserves natural resources but also reduces the environmental footprint associated with mining and raw material extraction.

Max Nagle, Marketing & Business Development Manager - Cellcycle

AUTOMOTIVE

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