Honda Motor Europe expands partnership with SNAM for battery recycling

SNAM is investigating the possibility of using batteries in a ’second life’ for the storage of renewable energy in industrial applications.

Autocar Professional BureauBy Autocar Professional Bureau calendar 16 Apr 2020 Views icon7548 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp

Honda Motor Europe is expanding its battery recycling partnership with SNAM (Societe Nouvelle d'Affinage des Metaux) to advance the sustainable usability of its end-of-life traction batteries. The pan-European arrangement will see SNAM collect and recycle batteries from Honda's hybrid and electric vehicles and potentially prepare them for 'second-life' renewable energy storage uses or extract valuable materials for recycling.

Honda and SNAM have worked together since 2013, to ensure the traceability of end-of-life batteries and dispose them off in accordance with European Union’s environmental standards. SNAM will collect Lithium-ion and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries from across Honda's dealer network and authorised treatment facilities (ATF) in 22 countries, before analysing how suitable they are for recycling and processing them.   

Tom Gardner, senior vice president at Honda Motor Europe, said: “As demand for Honda’s expanding range of hybrid and electric cars continues to grow so does the requirement to manage batteries in the most environmentally-friendly way possible. Recent market developments may allow us to make use of these batteries in a second life application for powering businesses or by using recent improved recycling techniques to recover useful raw materials which can be used as feedstock into the production of new batteries.”

Safe and low carbon transport is utilised for the collection of used traction batteries. SNAM assesses the battery packs that are valid for inclusion in a new energy storage device. These are then repurposed and made available by SNAM for domestic and industrial applications.

When battery cells are damaged and unsuitable for ‘second life’ applications, materials such as cobalt and lithium can be extracted using hydrometallurgy techniques involving the use of aqueous chemistry. These can be reused in the production of new batteries, colour pigments or as useful additives for mortar. Other commonly used materials including copper, metal and plastics are recycled and offered to the market for use in the production of a variety of applications.

The agreement applies to large ‘traction’ batteries used to power motors in hybrid and electric vehicles, as opposed to smaller batteries used for ignition in petrol or diesel cars. The environmental sound treatment of these batteries at the end of their useful life can result in better management of environmental waste.

RELATED ARTICLES
Isuzu unveils D-Max EV at 2025 Commercial Vehicle Show

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar29 Apr 2025

Revealed at the 2025 Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham, the Isuzu -Max EV is the first fully electric commercial pic...

Hyundai unveils next−gen highly efficient hybrid system

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar22 Apr 2025

The next-gen hybrid system is claimed to offer 45% better fuel efficiency and 19% more power compared with ICE powertrai...

Horse Powertrain reveals hybrid conversion for electric cars

auther Autocar Professional Bureau calendar19 Apr 2025

Engine-making joint venture of Geely and the Renault Group announces new hybrid powertrain that fits into the same space...