Swedish multinational in partnership with Volkswagen develops the first 100% recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt battery, which came to 'save' the great ghost of electric cars in the world

The big ghost of electric cars is the battery life cycle and the pollution generated by their waste. The Swedish company Northvolt has just manufactured the first 100% recycled battery.

The Swedish company Northvolt in partnership with the giant vehicle manufacturer Volkswagen, gave a first hint of something that could alleviate much of the automotive industry, presenting the first battery made entirely of recycled materials from other accumulators that were out of service. But in addition to being a possible solution, this news would generate an eventual change of view for many critics of the new sustainable mobility through electric cars, who constantly question the pollution that batteries will cause at the end of their useful life cycle.

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Although component recycling projects have been initiated in many companies owned and associated with the automotive world, to achieve that the cells of a battery are born entirely from the discarded parts of others, is without a doubt a great advance. And Revolt, the Swedish company's recycling department, has done just that by producing its first lithium-ion battery cell with 100% of the nickel, manganese and cobalt materials used in discarded devices, which are completely reused.

This allows us to say that 95% of the battery is recycled, not 100%, because what is being recycled is the cell, not the complete battery. However, this is still the most important contribution, as it is precisely these mineral raw materials that the world needs to recycle.

Ultium Cells LLC, a company jointly formed by General Motors and LG Energy Solution, was one of the first brands to start this same process.

One of the first brands to start this same process, and which promised to present its products by the end of the year, is Ultium Cells LLC, a company formed jointly by General Motors and LG Energy Solution, which announced last May, the signature agreement with Li-Cycle to recycle battery materials, including cobalt, nickel, lithium, graphite, copper, manganese and aluminum. This means that 95% of these materials can be used in the production of new batteries or in adjacent industries.

In the case of Northvolt, the automotive company directly related to this undertaking is Volkswagen, which invested last June to acquire 20% of the company's shareholding.

Recycled battery is completely equal to a cell made with more relevant metals such as nickel, manganese and cobalt

The Swedes say that the performance of this battery is completely equal to that of a cell made from new materials. The most relevant metals, such as nickel, manganese and cobalt, were recovered through a low-energy hydrometallurgical treatment, which uses an aqueous solution to isolate the metals and separate them from impurities.

Now comes the second stage of development, setting up Revolt Ett, the factory where this type of recycled batteries will be produced, which is expected to recycle around 125 tons of batteries per year. The unit will begin construction in early 2022 and is expected to be produced by the end of 2023.

The main task of this plant will be to recycle the main elements of the cells, such as nickel, manganese and cobalt, and to a lesser extent, copper, lithium, aluminum or plastic, which will come from batteries that have already exhausted their useful life in a car, and also from waste from Northvolt's own main new battery plant.

Iconic Volkswagen Beetle, manufactured in 1955, is found after 52 years in junkyard and costs more than R$ 391

One of the most coveted classics on the automotive planet, the Volkswagen Beetle, collects admirers wherever it goes. And it's no wonder, the old beetle was manufactured for 65 years and sold over 21 million units worldwide! Brazil, alone, became the third country where more units were manufactured – 3 million – just behind Germany and the United States.

After Volkswagen decreed its end in 2018, the Chinese automaker tries to resurrect the beetle and shamelessly manufactures an electric copy of the iconic Beetle.

The Chinese industry has not yet abandoned some old habits, and the multinational Volkswagen was not at all flattered by the electric car manufacturer ORA, which is part of the Great Wall Motors group. The brand presented a clone of the Beetle at the Shanghai Motor Show. Named ORA Punk Cat, the vehicle has the same traits as the iconic VW car.

It is possible to notice that the ORA was inspired – not to say that he blatantly copied – the traits of the Volkswagen Beetle in his new Punk Cat. The hood with a curved design, the rounded headlights and the rear design, complete with oval taillights, refer to the old beetle.

Multinational Volkswagen launches the new Kombi, the classic that remained in production until 1975 here in Brazil will have an electric successor!

After Volkswagen's boss announced the closure of production of gasoline and diesel combustion engines, the automaker launches the successor of the iconic Kombi.

The iconic Kombi, the Volkswagen van, continues to evolve and the German automaker is already preparing a new, much more advanced generation. The electric reincarnation of the VW Kombi was first seen with its final bodywork. The camouflage deceives its final appearance, taking advantage of the debut of the ID.5, Volkswagen briefly showed its long-awaited electric van with neo-retro design that is getting closer! Watch the video below and get to know the Kombi of the future.