BMW Group and joint-venture partner Encory have begun mechanical direct recycling of lithium-ion battery materials at the newly commissioned Cell Recycling Competence Centre (CRCC) in Salching, Lower Bavaria. The facility is designed to recover electrode materials without resorting to energy-intensive chemical or thermal treatments, allowing refined components to re-enter the production cycle directly.
At full capacity, the Salching site is expected to process several tens of tonnes of battery cell residues and pilot-production cells each year. Recovered materials will be sent to BMW’s Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) in Parsdorf for reuse in new cell production. This regional closed-loop approach is part of the company’s broader circular-economy strategy, which emphasizes rethinking processes, reducing resource use, reusing materials and recycling raw inputs.
The CRCC occupies roughly 2,100 square metres of production and warehouse space, supported by about 350 square metres of offices and staff facilities. Rooftop photovoltaic panels supply a share of the centre’s energy requirements. Although Encory GmbH operates the site, intellectual property for the direct recycling methodology remains with BMW Group. Encory, a 50:50 joint venture between BMW Group and the Interzero Group, provides logistics and consulting services focused on the recovery and repurposing of vehicle components. The Salching plant will employ around 20 people.
BMW’s battery cell expertise is concentrated at three Bavarian locations: cell development in Munich, pilot production and scaling in Parsdorf, and recycling in Salching. This proximity of development, manufacturing and recycling activities aims to maximize efficiency, reduce material losses and minimize the need for newly mined raw materials.
By avoiding the breakdown of materials into basic chemical constituents, mechanical direct recycling reduces both energy consumption and costs. BMW says this approach positions its cell production at the forefront of sustainable electromobility and could serve as a model for large-scale deployment by other cell manufacturers in the future.
Source: BMW Group
