Renault wants to recycle materials from batteries on a large scale itself, said to be the first in Europe

Recycling the materials from which the batteries are made could significantly reduce the price of new electric cars. In addition, it would underline the sustainability of electromobility.

“There is currently no one in Europe that can claim to recycle used batteries in a closed cycle to produce nickel, cobalt and lithium for the production of new batteries,” said Jean-Philippe Bahuaud, head of Renault’s environmental division The Future is Neutral ( TFIN), in an interview with Reuters.

The French car manufacturer Renault should conduct advanced negotiations with a company that specializes in the recycling of materials used in batteries. Recycling these materials would then be beneficial not only for nature, but also for customers.

The precious metals mentioned, which could be recycled from batteries, often make up to 70 percent of the price of the battery, the value of which subsequently represents up to around 40% of the price of the entire electric car.

The Renault TFIN division should already this year start the production of partially recycled components and refurbished cars at the Flins plant near Paris. Battery recycling will also take place here, with Bahuaud expecting the plant to repair around 9,000 batteries this year. Refurbished batteries and other parts, such as electric motors, should then be sold at a discount of around 30 percent.