Importers of electric vehicles in Norway have established a dedicated company to collect and recycle high-energy batteries, as the country prepares for a surge in discarded battery volumes over the next decade.
The newly created Autoretur Battery Recycling (ABR), set up by the Norwegian Association of Vehicle Importers (Bilimportørenes Landsforening, BIL) through Autoretur AS, has received approval from the Norwegian Environment Agency to operate as an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organisation. ABR will begin operations on Nov. 1, 2025, managing the collection and processing of up to 50,000 used high-energy batteries annually by 2030, with volumes projected to exceed 100,000 by 2035.
“With the approval in place, we can offer a comprehensive and safe solution for the collection, handling and treatment of high-energy batteries. This is circular economy in practice,” said Erik Andresen, CEO of ABR. He added that the need for a coordinated system is growing rapidly, noting: “This makes it absolutely crucial to put in place a system that ensures safe and efficient collection and treatment of used batteries from electric vehicles.”
Under Norwegian law, all car importers must belong to an approved EPR organisation to ensure that vehicles are dismantled and processed correctly at the end of their lifecycle. High-energy batteries require particular attention due to environmental risks, flammability and the presence of valuable metals that can be recovered and reused in new battery production.
ABR will also take over statutory reporting duties to the Norwegian Environment Agency, ensuring compliance with collection, traceability and treatment regulations. The company plans to utilise Autoretur’s existing nationwide logistics network to handle transport and processing, which BIL says will enable efficient operations with lower emissions and high safety standards.
“Through the new company, car importers will receive a cost-effective and responsible solution that meets both regulatory requirements and customer expectations for sustainability,” said Harald J. Andersen, CEO of BIL.
