- Volkswagen Group has signed an agreement with Ecobat on electric vehicle batteries.
- Ecobat has had a longstanding relationship with VWG UK since 2014 when it started collecting lead acid batteries for TPS.
Volkswagen Group United Kingdom Ltd (VWG UK) has signed an agreement with Ecobat, the global leader in battery recycling, to collect and recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The deal helps VWG UK close the loop to promote a circular energy economy and ensures the UK’s largest automotive Group is doing all it can to boost sustainability.
Ecobat has a longstanding relationship with VWG UK dating back to 2014 when it started collecting lead acid batteries for TPS, the Volkswagen Group Genuine Parts provider to the independent motor trade.
Also, Ecobat will collect EV batteries to recycle lithium-ion battery materials under this latest agreement. The company will collect high-voltage batteries from dealers, distributors, and end-of-life recycling centres using Ecobat’s ADR-compliant vehicles.
Ecobat’s new UK lithium-ion recycling centre will be the processing centre for the battery. This is Ecobat’s third lithium-ion recycling facility, and facilities operating in Germany and Arizona.
Director of One Aftersales for Volkswagen Group UK Sylvain Charbonnier said, “the number of electric vehicles in our car park is rapidly increasing, and sustainability is needed throughout the lifecycle. Working with trusted partners can reassure our dealers and customers that they are responsibly moving towards our electrification goals.“
Also, Elliott Ethridge, Vice President of Global Sales for Ecobat, commented, “We have been recycling lead batteries for VWG UK for a decade, and we are happy to be able to extend our relationship to recycle EV lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion is a fast-growing technology, and our recycling operations can handle everything from small-format batteries to EV batteries. We also recover scrap, byproducts, end-of-life, and damaged products to help make lithium-ion battery production more sustainable. Our expertise in recycling and recovering scarce battery materials will benefit Volkswagen Group and the environment.”
On a global basis, Volkswagen AG was the first major automotive company to commit itself to the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement and has developed a group-wide decarbonisation programme. It has launched the most comprehensive electrification initiative in the automotive industry and is committed to the introduction of e-mobility.