BASF to build black mass plant in Germany to recycle batteries

BASF has announced it will build a black mass plant for recycling batteries in Schwarzheide, Germany, where it already has a cathode active materials production and recycling facility. 

The company says the new plant, which is expected to begin production in early 2024, will be built to the highest environmental, health and safety standards. BASF plans to direct the lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese in the black mass to a commercial hydrometallurgical refinery that will handle the next part of battery recycling, which it expects to be built by 2025.

According to BASF, the new plant will have an annual processing capacity of 15,000 tons of EV batteries and production scrap.

Eaton joins EU-supported Flow Consortium to develop V2X technology

Power management specialist Eaton has joined a pan-European research project aimed at developing V2X technology. The research will focus on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) capabilities, including work on Eaton’s proprietary Buildings as a Grid energy management system.

Supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation program, the €9.87-million ($10.41-million) project will span four years to March 2026, and its scope will include “the entire electric vehicle charging value chain.” The FLOW project consortium, which includes 24 external partners and 6 European universities, will be led by the Catalonia Energy Research Institute.

Eaton’s role in the consortium will involve further developing EV charging technologies, as well as demonstrating charging solutions, based on experience with its Buildings as a Grid approach to uniting the power needs of buildings and EVs with on-site renewable energy generation.

“As electric vehicles grow in popularity across Europe, a comprehensive range of fully integrated charging technologies is urgently needed to support mass deployment and enable valuable new services,” said Stefan Costea, Regional Technology Manager, Eaton Research Labs. “We’re developing optimal solutions for V2G, V2X and energy management. We will demonstrate these technologies at three test labs—the Eaton European Innovation Center in Prague, University College Dublin, and the Catalonia Energy Research Institute in Barcelona. [Also], we will be supporting large-scale technology demonstrations in Rome and Copenhagen with our energy management systems.”

For the demonstrations in Prague and Barcelona, Eaton will collaborate closely with fast charging specialist Heliox. In Rome and Copenhagen, Eaton will collaborate on energy management system interoperability with companies specializing in transmission and distribution: Enel, Terna and Areti.

Volvo Group invests in software provider Optibus to digitalize and electrify public transportation

Volvo Group Venture Capital has invested in Optibus, the provider of a Software-as-a-Service solution designed to facilitate the digitalization and electrification of public transportation. Optibus says its service is in use in 1,000 cities in 26 countries.

“Optibus offers a scalable SaaS solution and has doubled its revenue year over year,” says Christina Brinck, Investment Director, Volvo Group Venture Capital. “We believe the Volvo Group can add considerable strategic value to the continued development of the business.”

“The bus market is transforming due to digitalization, electrification, and changes in business models,” says the Volvo Group. “Advanced software solutions are key for cities and bus operators to take advantage of the market development. Optibus and Volvo Group will collaborate to create mutual strategic learnings and growth opportunities.”

“Between Volvo Group, as a global OEM with decades of transport industry expertise, and Optibus, as an agile, quickly scaling SaaS company, this relationship spurs the synergy needed to advance digitalization and sustainable fleets,” says Amos Haggiag, CEO and co-founder of Optibus.