Toyota Motor and partners start NiMH battery-to-battery recycling in Japan
27 October 2010
Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), Toyota Chemical Engineering Co., Ltd. (Toyota Chemical Engineering), Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. (Sumitomo Metal Mining) and Primearth EV Energy Co., Ltd. (PEVE, formerly Panasonic EV Energy) have launched what they say is the first business to recycle nickel in used hybrid-vehicle nickel-metal-hydride batteries for use in new nickel-metal-hydride batteries.
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| Business structure of battery-to-battery recycling. Click to enlarge. |
Previously, nickel-metal-hydride batteries recovered by car dealers and vehicle dismantling businesses were subjected to reduction treatment, and scrap containing nickel was recycled as a raw material for stainless-steel manufacturing. Now, with the development of high-precision nickel sorting and extraction technology, materials can be introduced directly into the nickel-refining process, thus achieving “battery-to-battery” recycling.
To carry out the business, TMC has established the Toyota HV Call Center to help recover the batteries, constructed advanced recycling facilities designed for mass production in cooperation with Toyota Chemical Engineering, and is receiving support from Sumitomo Metal Mining concerning the refining of nickel for use in batteries. TMC is also receiving support from PEVE concerning quality assurance in the manufacture of hybrid-vehicle nickel-metal-hydride batteries.
In addition, making use of trucks on return trips from parts deliveries is planned to reduce environmental impact, including CO2 emissions during transport.
TMC is currently investigating introducing this recycling system overseas.
Interesting how the EV battery chemistry that GM/Chevron crushed and buried runs millions of hybrids and is so precious that mass recycling processes are being implemented by honest efficient corporations.
Posted by: kelly | 27 October 2010 at 11:23 AM
It was a very dubious decision from GM, to sell advanced battery technology to the lease interested (Oil) people, to make sure that those batteries would never be developed or used.
It is amazing that many of us are still buying GM products, let alone electrified vehicles.
Posted by: HarveyD | 27 October 2010 at 02:19 PM
It is really a win-win-win. Customer gets $200 for a dead HV battery. They get the nickel that worth more in return. This reduces mining for more nickel, better for earth.
Posted by: usbseawolf2000 | 27 October 2010 at 02:23 PM
Pretty ingenious. Props to Toyota.
Posted by: GreenPlease | 27 October 2010 at 04:05 PM