Honda Europe expands partnership with SNAM to recycle EV batteries

Honda Motor Europe is expanding its partnership with SNAM to promote the renewable use of batteries that have reached the end of their standard lifespan.

Honda’s first fully electric vehicle, Honda e (deliveries by mid 2020)

In this European partnership, SNAM will collect and recycle batteries from Honda’s increasing number of hybrid and electric vehicles, either preparing them for a ‘second life’ as renewable energy storage, or removing all valuable raw materials for recycling.


Honda and SNAM have been working together since 2013, working on batteries that have reached the end of their standard life and to dispose of them in accordance with European Union environmental standards.

With the extension of this partnership, SNAM will now also collect lithium-ion and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries within Honda’s dealer network and at Authorized Treatment Facilities (ATF) in 22 countries, and will assess the suitability of the batteries for recycling and they will be processed accordingly.

Tom Gardner, Senior Vice President at Honda Motor Europe, said, “As the demand for Honda’s growing range of hybrid and electric cars continues to grow, so does the need to manage batteries in the most environmentally friendly manner. Recent market developments give us the opportunity to give these batteries a second life by powering companies or by using recently improved recycling techniques to recover useful raw materials that can be used in the production of new batteries.”

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid

They use low carbon emission transportation facilities to collect used batteries. On arrival, SNAM checks which battery packs are suitable for new energy storage applications. These batteries are then repurposed and made available by SNAM for use in domestic or industrial applications.

When battery cells are damaged and cannot be used for a ‘second life’, raw materials such as cobalt and lithium can be removed from the batteries via hydrometallurgy techniques using water chemistry. These can then be reused in the production of new batteries, color pigments or as useful mortar additives. Other commonly used materials, including copper, metal and plastics, are recycled and made available for use in the production of a variety of applications.

Dealers can arrange and request battery collection through SNAM’s dedicated online platform. Collection can be arranged at central storage hubs within 15 business days, eliminating the need for dealers to store batteries themselves.


The agreement applies to large EVB (Electric Vehicle Battery) units used to power motors in hybrid and electric vehicles, as opposed to smaller batteries used for ignition in gasoline or diesel cars.

SNAM supports Honda’s activities to design environmentally conscious future batteries to ensure environmentally friendly disposal of these batteries at the end of their life.

Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



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