Cylib, a startup backed by Porsche and Bosch, is building a huge electric vehicle battery recycling facility in Dormagen, a town in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
Cylib
A massive battery recycling plant is being built in Germany by Cylib, a startup looking to reduce waste from EV batteries that have reached the end of their life.
Cylib, which is backed by luxury sports car firm Porsche and appliances maker Bosch, on Monday started work on the new site in the town of Dormagen, in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
More than 180 million euros ($200 million) is being pumped into the facility, which is expected to span 236,000 square feet and will produce recycled batteries for the electric vehicle industry in Europe.
Cylib says its facility will be the largest end-to-end lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Europe.
It plans to recycle roughly 30,000 metric tons of end-of-life batteries at the facility each year, making it larger in scale than the current biggest plant, Hydrovolt, a joint venture between Swedish EV battery maker Northvolt and Norway-based aluminum and renewable energy firm Hydro.
Hydrovolt has capacity to recycle 12,000 metric tons of end-of-life batteries annually, according to Hydro’s website.
Recycled batteries produced by Cylib’s new facility are expected to be used by Porsche, which invested in the startup as part of a 55-million-euro funding round, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous as the information is not yet public, added that the plans are still in the early stages and have not yet been formalized.
Asked about Porsche’s involvement in the project, a Cylib spokesperson said that investments from partners like Porsche are "strategic," adding that it is working closely with its investors about process industrialization and commercial partnerships.
Crucial for the EV transition
Battery recycling is a key priority for the European Union, which is looking to ensure the sustainable development of batteries needed to fuel the transition to electric vehicle.
Founded in 2022 by German entrepreneurs Lilian Schwich, her partner Gideon, and Paul Sabarny, Cylib uses water-based lithium and graphite recovery techniques to repurpose materials from batteries that have hit the end of their lifespan.
Earlier this year, the firm raised 55 million euros ($60.9 million) of financing from investors including climate-focused venture capital firm World Fund, Porsche Ventures, Bosch, and DeepTech&Climate Fonds.
Cylib said the new plant would primarily serve automotive, battery manufacturing, and chemicals clients. The startup wants it to be the first of many, with further facilities planned elsewhere in Germany and Europe within the next few years.
The new facility is being built on a brownfield site located at Chempark, an industrial space used primarily by the chemicals industry. Cylib said that the location was strategic, with pre-existing supply chains already located on-site.
Operations at the plant are scheduled to commence operations in 2026. The move is key to Cylib’s ability to reach mass production, said CEO Lilian Schwich.
"Cylib reaching industrial scale production will be a key driver in building a robust European battery infrastructure," Schwich said in a press statement.
"Battery recycling is pioneering the circular economy, proving that economic success is compatible with reduced environmental impact," she added.
Cylib, a startup backed by Porsche and Bosch, is building a huge electric vehicle battery recycling facility in Dormagen, a town in Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia region.
Cylib
A massive battery recycling plant is being built in Germany by Cylib, a startup looking to reduce waste from EV batteries that have reached the end of their life.
Cylib, which is backed by luxury sports car firm Porsche and appliances maker Bosch, on Monday started work on the new site in the town of Dormagen, in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.
More than 180 million euros ($200 million) is being pumped into the facility, which is expected to span 236,000 square feet and will produce recycled batteries for the electric vehicle industry in Europe.
Cylib says its facility will be the largest end-to-end lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Europe.
It plans to recycle roughly 30,000 metric tons of end-of-life batteries at the facility each year, making it larger in scale than the current biggest plant, Hydrovolt, a joint venture between Swedish EV battery maker Northvolt and Norway-based aluminum and renewable energy firm Hydro.
Hydrovolt has capacity to recycle 12,000 metric tons of end-of-life batteries annually, according to Hydro’s website.
Recycled batteries produced by Cylib’s new facility are expected to be used by Porsche, which invested in the startup as part of a 55-million-euro funding round, a source familiar with the matter told CNBC.
The source, who preferred to remain anonymous as the information is not yet public, added that the plans are still in the early stages and have not yet been formalized.
Asked about Porsche’s involvement in the project, a Cylib spokesperson said that investments from partners like Porsche are "strategic," adding that it is working closely with its investors about process industrialization and commercial partnerships.
Crucial for the EV transition
Battery recycling is a key priority for the European Union, which is looking to ensure the sustainable development of batteries needed to fuel the transition to electric vehicle.
Founded in 2022 by German entrepreneurs Lilian Schwich, her partner Gideon, and Paul Sabarny, Cylib uses water-based lithium and graphite recovery techniques to repurpose materials from batteries that have hit the end of their lifespan.
Earlier this year, the firm raised 55 million euros ($60.9 million) of financing from investors including climate-focused venture capital firm World Fund, Porsche Ventures, Bosch, and DeepTech&Climate Fonds.
Cylib said the new plant would primarily serve automotive, battery manufacturing, and chemicals clients. The startup wants it to be the first of many, with further facilities planned elsewhere in Germany and Europe within the next few years.
The new facility is being built on a brownfield site located at Chempark, an industrial space used primarily by the chemicals industry. Cylib said that the location was strategic, with pre-existing supply chains already located on-site.
Operations at the plant are scheduled to commence operations in 2026. The move is key to Cylib’s ability to reach mass production, said CEO Lilian Schwich.
"Cylib reaching industrial scale production will be a key driver in building a robust European battery infrastructure," Schwich said in a press statement.
"Battery recycling is pioneering the circular economy, proving that economic success is compatible with reduced environmental impact," she added.
Cylib, a startup backed by automotive giants Porsche and Bosch, is building a massive electric vehicle battery recycling facility in Germany. The facility, which will be the largest of its kind in Europe, aims to recycle a significant chunk of Europe’s end-of-life EV batteries.
Here are some key takeaways:
- The new facility is expected to recycle roughly 30,000 metric tons of end-of-life batteries annually, making it significantly larger than the current biggest plant, Hydrovolt, which has a capacity of 12,000 metric tons.
- Cylib will use water-based lithium and graphite recovery techniques to repurpose materials from the batteries.
- The company has secured 55 million euros ($60.9 million) in funding to fuel the project.
- Porsche, which invested in Cylib, is expected to be a key customer for the recycled batteries.
- The facility is strategically located in a brownfield site at Chempark, Germany, providing access to existing supply chains.
- The plant is scheduled to begin operations in 2026 and is considered a crucial step in building a robust European battery infrastructure.
This ambitious project highlights the growing importance of battery recycling in the EV transition. As the number of EVs on the road increases, the need for sustainable and efficient battery recycling becomes paramount. With its large-scale facility and innovative recycling technologies, Cylib is poised to play a vital role in creating a circular economy for EV batteries in Europe.
Building a Circular Economy for EV Batteries
The European Union has made battery recycling a key priority as it transitions to a more sustainable transportation system. The EU’s Battery Regulation, which came into effect in 2020, sets ambitious targets for battery recycling, aiming to ensure that 80% of lithium-ion batteries are collected by 2030 and that 95% of critical raw materials are recovered by 2035.
Cylib’s facility is a concrete step towards achieving these targets. The company’s end-to-end recycling process will enable them to recover valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese from used batteries, significantly reducing dependence on mining operations for these resources.
The need for a robust battery recycling infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent due to the rapid growth of the EV market. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that the global stock of EV batteries will reach 1,420 GWh by 2030, which is equivalent to five times the current global capacity.
With such a rapid increase in battery demand, recycling existing batteries becomes critical to reducing reliance on new materials and minimizing the environmental impact of battery production.
Technology and Collaboration
Cylib’s water-based lithium and graphite recovery techniques are considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional pyrometallurgical methods.
The company’s focus on sustainability is reflected in its choice of location. The Chempark site, with its existing infrastructure and supply chains, minimizes the environmental impact of the facility.
Cylib is also committed to collaborating with key industry players. The strategic partnerships with companies like Porsche and Bosch ensure the development and deployment of recycling technologies, as well as the adoption of recycled materials in the EV supply chain.
A Vital Step Towards Sustainability
Cylib’s ambitious project represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future for the EV industry. The company’s focus on large-scale battery recycling, combined with its innovative recycling technologies and strong industry partnerships, is setting a high bar for the development of a circular economy for EV batteries.
As the EV market continues to grow, the need for responsible and sustainable battery recycling will only become more acute. Cylib’s success in building and operating its large-scale facility will be crucial in demonstrating the viability of a circular economy for EV batteries, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of the electric vehicle revolution.
