Canadian rare earth recycling specialist Cyclic Materials and micromobility firm Lime have launched a partnership to recover rare earth magnets from used electric bike and scooter motors, targeting an often-overlooked resource in the clean mobility sector.
The project focuses on the recycling of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, which are widely used in electric motors. With surging demand for rare earths in the energy transition, experts estimate that more than 43,000 tonnes of such material could be recoverable in the U.S. by 2035. Yet currently, less than 1% of rare earth magnets are recycled globally.
“This partnership sets a powerful precedent for how innovative companies can close critical loops in the clean energy supply chain,” said Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO of Cyclic Materials. The firm, backed by BMW and JLR, will use its proprietary MagCycle and REEPure technologies to process motors from Lime’s decommissioned vehicles and return recovered materials to the supply chain. The company operates a demonstration plant in Kingston, Ontario, and is building a full-scale facility in Mesa, Arizona.
Lime, which operates over 270,000 e-bikes and scooters worldwide, will initially supply motors from its fleets in Canada and the U.S. The first deliveries to Cyclic Materials are expected in the coming weeks, with an expansion of the program planned for 2025. “Circularity is a core part of our sustainability mission,” said Andrew Savage, Head of Sustainability at Lime. “Partnering with Cyclic Materials helps us take a meaningful step towards enhancing the recovery of already-processed materials.”
This marks Lime’s second major recycling collaboration. In April 2025, the company announced a partnership with Redwood Materials to recover lithium, cobalt, and nickel from used batteries. Together, the partnerships support Lime’s broader goal of establishing a circular supply chain and achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
Source: cyclicmaterials.earth