BMW Spearheads Sustainable Battery Recycling with New Centre in Kirchroth
BMW Group is launching a new Cell Recycling Competence Centre (CRCC) in Kirchroth, Lower Bavaria, dedicated to advancing the direct recycling of battery cells. This cutting-edge method facilitates the mechanical separation of battery cell components, allowing the direct reuse of valuable raw materials in the production process at the company's own Battery Cell Competence Centres.
Markus Fallböhmer, SVP of Battery Production at BMW AG, underscores the integrated approach: "The new Cell Recycling Competence Centre expands our in-house expertise from development and pilot production to recycling, creating a sustainable lifecycle for battery cells." BMW Group plans to invest approximately 10 million euros in this innovative facility, with installation work set to begin in the latter half of 2025. After completion, the centre will validate the recycling method in near-series production processes.
The production of battery cells heavily depends on raw materials such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, nickel, and copper, which are significant cost drivers. "Direct recycling will help reduce costs for our battery cell pilot line," Fallböhmer notes. Distinct from traditional methods, direct recycling reintroduces materials into the production cycle without reverting them to their original state, avoiding energy-intensive chemical or thermal processes. Developed by BMW Group experts in Munich and Parsdorf, this technique will be scaled up at the Kirchroth facility for broader application.
The BMW Group consolidates its battery cell expertise at its Competence Centres in Munich and Parsdorf. The Battery Cell Competence Centre in Munich is devoted to developing and producing small quantities of next-generation high-voltage battery cells. At the same time, pilot production scaling takes place at the Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre in Parsdorf. Once operational, the Kirchroth centre will manage to recycle surplus material from Parsdorf's pilot production, ensuring efficient use of resources and proximity between all centres.
The new CRCC, covering 2,200 m², will be integrated into an existing structure in the Kirchroth-Nord industrial park. It will feature energy recovery systems that harness electricity from discharged cells and utilise photovoltaic systems to power the recycling operations. Encory GmbH, a joint venture between the BMW Group and the Interzero Group, will operate the Competence Centre, focusing on innovative recycling and remanufacturing solutions for vehicle components.
BMW Group is deeply committed to the principles of the circular economy, aiming to maximise the circularity of materials and maintain their value over time. By applying principles such as Re:Think, Re:Duce, Re:Use, and Re:Cycle throughout the vehicle lifecycle—from design to end-of-life recycling—BMW ensures that vehicles can continually serve as a resource for new car production, mainly through innovative recycling methods for high-voltage batteries from electrified vehicles.
