Mercedes-Benz Takes Major EV Sustainability Step

Mercedes-Benz EV models have redefined the luxury market with advanced engineering and performance capacity that help you reduce your environmental output without sacrifice. The truth is, however, that EV technology isn’t perfect, and there are some gaps in the lifecycle of electric vehicles that can have a lasting impact on the environment — until now. Mercedes-Benz is addressing those gaps with innovative solutions and a new recycling factory.

Why is Mercedes-Benz Opening a Recycling Facility?

One of the biggest challenges automakers have to deal with when it comes to electric vehicles is the battery. Batteries can be difficult, if not impossible, to recycle, which means resources are lost, and further resources must be extracted to create new vehicles. Mercedes-Benz is working to close that gap with a new battery recycling facility. The goal is to capture and recover up to 96% of mechanical-hydrometallurgical materials, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel. More than 50,000 new batteries will be produced with the addition of these materials, which marks a significant turning point for both Mercedes-Benz and the industry as a whole.

How Does the Recycling Facility Work?

The new Mercedes-Benz battery recycling facility in southern Germany is dedicated to closing the battery loop by capturing, saving, and reusing resources. It is powered by 100% green energy and designed to be low consumption in its recycling processes. It begins by separating plastics and different metals, then extracts the precious metals for use in future batteries. The resources extracted during this process will be used as spare parts for electric vehicles or within the energy storage system.

Test-Drive Electric Mercedes-Benz Vehicles in Van Nuys, CA

This is just one step Mercedes-Benz is taking toward sustainable production. Drivers looking to reduce their impact without giving up power or performance are sure to love the lineup of available electric Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Learn more about the company’s efforts and take a test drive at Keyes European.