Trumpf, a Germany-based Industrial equipment supplier has been in the race for innovation since its inception. The company has launched a laser process for recycling electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This new technology would enable car makers and battery manufacturers to reuse valuable raw materials and comply with the EU’s recycling quotas. The company said this will be the first time when used or defective batteries from EVs can be recycled on an industrial scale.
The Battery Show Europe 2024 commenced in which the laser systems were displayed this week to safely cut used batteries and extract valuable raw materials from the battery foil.
Hagen Zimer, CEO of laser technology at Trumpf, commented, “Recycling batteries is environmentally beneficial and now economically viable, thanks to advancements in laser technology. Trumpf has gained significant expertise in laser welding and cutting for manufacturing e-car batteries through extensive partnerships with top car and battery makers.”
The recycling of EV batteries heavily relies on expensive and sometimes raw materials such as cobalt, lithium and nickel which are unsustainable. The heavy reliance turns recycling into a crucial and significant process. As per the EU mandate, the recycling rate cannot be less than 90%.
Alexander Sauer, Head of the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, stressed the necessity of large-scale recycling. Europe will need to recycle 570,000 tons of battery material annually by 2030. Sauer emphasized the necessity for large-scale recycling within the industry, highlighting the substantial potential of the emerging market for laser processes in battery recycling.
Trumpf says laser processes will aid in extracting the valuable coatings from foil strips used in battery cells, enabling manufacturers to reclaim and reuse the materials. This method would also prevent large amounts of coated foil from being dumped as waste.
Moreover, Trumpf’s laser technology facilitates efficient and automated disassembly of battery packs, enabling the removal of covers, cutting of cables, and thereby aiding in the sorting of raw materials and separation of reusable
