Librec is set to inaugurate Switzerland’s largest recycling plant for electric car batteries in Biberist, located in the canton of Solothurn. The new facility, constructed on the site of a former paper factory, is scheduled to begin operations at the end of October.
The plant will have an annual capacity of 12,000 tonnes of electric car batteries. As the demand for electric vehicles grows, so does the need for efficient recycling solutions. Battery recycling helps mitigate the environmental impact of mining metals used in batteries, allowing for the reuse of materials in new battery production.
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Librec’s recycling process involves several steps. Once delivered, batteries are first fully discharged. “The battery is opened, connected to discharge technology, and all remaining energy is sucked out of it,” said Jodok Reinhardt, founder and Managing Director of Librec, in an interview with SRF. The recovered energy will be utilized to power the recycling plant, covering approximately one-third of its energy needs.
The plant will process batteries from all manufacturers. After discharge, the batteries are dismantled, with up to 70 screws needing to be removed depending on the manufacturer. The batteries are then shredded and dried, and the resulting black mass can be used to produce new batteries. “This recycling plant is the result of years of research,” Reinhardt stated.
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Fire safety is a key focus at the plant. Each battery is placed in a separate fire compartment to prevent the spread of any potential fires.
The plant’s maximum annual capacity is 12,000 tonnes of batteries, which Librec believes is currently sufficient for market needs. The plant boasts a recovery rate of 97%, reportedly higher than that of competitors. Reinhardt indicated that expansion might be considered if the proportion of electric vehicles increases further.
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