CATL in talks to establish multiple battery recycling sites in Europe with eyes on North America next
CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, looks to continue its dominance in its given market by expanding its existing battery recycling program to new continents outside of China. The company is in talks with a specific partner to erect multiple battery recycling facilities across Europe and may soon be doing the same in North America.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., better known as CATL, is without a doubt the global leader in EV battery manufacturing. Its current reign was further solidified this past February, when it emerged as the largest battery market share holder on the planet for a sixth straight year.
In the past, CATL has not only made headlines for the sheer scope of its battery business, but for the advanced technologies it continues to introduce. The company supplies tech to several major EV automakers around the world and has delivered next-generation batteries like its Qilin cells into mass production.
Just recently, CATL announced it is developing energy-dense batteries that will one day be able to power fully-electric passenger planes. Most people with any knowledge of the industry are aware of CATL’s development and manufacturing prowess, but what many don’t know is that the company is already the world leader in battery recycling. It currently has the capacity to recover over 90% of a used battery cell’s lithium and more than 99% of its nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
The company has already invested tens of billions in battery recycling facilities in China, as well as Indonesia, but it’s now setting its sights on other continents and is looking for partners to help get it done.
CATL looks to continue global dominance through recycling
During a panel at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions this week, CATL’s chief manufacturing officer Ni Jun spoke to the company’s battery recycling plans, which include multiple sites in Europe with one specific partner.
Ni declined to identify the potential partner in talks with CATL and would not share details as to the number of recycling sites the battery manufacturer is planning. That being said, the company has already invested big bucks into battery manufacturing footprints in Germany and Hungary, so a facility nearby might make sense. Ni spoke:
We believe recycling is a must, otherwise when a vehicle retires, what do you do? It’s polluting soil, difficult, dangerous and can be explosive.
In addition to working with its mystery partner in Europe, CATL’s manufacturing chief said the company is in the process of seeking out partners to implement recycling sites in North America as well. He added that CATL is searching for global partners as it aggressively works to further capture the global market (could have seen that one coming).
With confirmed expansion plans for both Europe and North America, it’s clear that CATL has no intention of slowing down and is already eyeing that seventh-straight title as the global leader in manufacturing – throw battery recycling leader in there too for good measure (unless Redwood has anything to say about it).
That segment may end up being more vital to a circular economy and certainly the environment in the long run, and that’s what EV adoption is all about, is it not?
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On today’s battle-ready episode of Quick Charge, it’s Elon Musk vs. the world as big players position themselves for control of enough lithium to build 600 million electric cars and the rest of the industry squares up to Tesla in the battle for market leadership.
While Windrose is making sales and expanding into new markets, the Tesla Semi is still in limited tests, Robotaxi launches as a “ride hailing service” in California with randos in the drivers’ seat and Academy Award nominated actor/noted college football analyst Timothée Chalamet teams up with Lucid to steal (even more) sales from the embattled Model S and X lines.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Retrospec, the makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Quick Charge listeners can get 10% off their next e-bike ride through August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10 only at retrospec.com.
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EV charging company ezVOLTz has partnered with Driivz, the EV software arm of Vontier, to make its “Charging as a Service” platform even smarter and more reliable for fleets, businesses, and state and local governments across the US.
If you’re not familiar with ezVOLTz, it’s a full-service EV charging provider. It handles everything, from installing hardware-agnostic chargers to managing the backend with its software platform, ezCONNECT. Now, ezVOLTz is plugging into Driivz’s charging and energy management tech to help run things even more smoothly.
With Driivz’s help, ezVOLTz plans to keep its network humming with 24/7 monitoring and real-time issue detection. Driivz’s Alert Management System can auto-fix up to 80% of charger hiccups remotely without sending a tech on-site. That means more uptime and fewer headaches for drivers and site owners.
“EV adoption is surging, and drivers and the companies and entities that serve them need smart, connected, and reliable charging options,” said ezVOLTz CEO Sam Malhotra. “The Driivz team and their smart charging and energy management solutions are a natural fit in bolstering our services.”
The partnership also gives ezVOLTz new tools to grow its network. Driivz’s software tracks usage patterns and charger performance, helping pinpoint the best spots for new installations. Driivz will also support the ezVOLTz app, letting users plan road trips and find chargers nationwide.
“Reliability and ease-of-use are two of the most important considerations for EV drivers,” said Andrew Bennett, CEO of Driivz. “We’re proud to partner with ezVOLTz in delivering seamless and reliable charging to their customers.”
As more businesses, fleets, and municipalities plug into EVs, partnerships like this one aim to make sure the charging experience keeps up.
Read more: Driivz expands in the US EV charging market with a new HQ
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The Subaru BRZ may live on as an EV after all. Subaru wants its share of the sports car market, and an electric BRZ could hit the sweet spot.
Is Subaru launching an electric BRZ?
Subaru discontinued the BRZ in Europe in 2020 after the first generation. Although its twin, the Toyota GR86, was sold until the 2024 model year, the BRZ was released as a US-only model.
In its third generation, it could return as an EV. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru’s European head, David Dello Stritto, said, “Our options are open,” hinting that the BRZ could make a comeback in electric form.
Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, confirmed an electric version of the sports car “was under consideration.” He added that Subaru has extensively looked into an EV version of the BRZ with its partner, Toyota.
Masahiko explained that “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GR86, but the win-win relationship is more important.” So far, “We can’t get the kind of benefits from both sides,” he added.
Subaru is already launching several new electric vehicles in Europe, including the new Uncharted, E-Outback (known as Trailseeker in the US), and an updated Solterra SUV.
Stritto said that an electric sports car will depend on the success of these models first, especially the Uncharted. According to Subaru’s European boss, the Japanese automaker feels “very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first.”
As for an “electrified” powertrain, or hybrid, Masahiko said the vehicle’s packaging “would make it difficult,” adding an EV version would be “easier” to create.
The comments come after Stritto told Autocar last week that a new entry-level EV could also be in the works. However, that will also depend on how well the Uncharted sells.
For those in the US, don’t worry – Subaru is not planning to discontinue the BRZ. If it did launch as an EV, would you consider one? It would go up against the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
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