Battery recycler Redwood Supplies stated Wednesday it would spend $3.5 billion on a new battery supplies facility in Charleston, South Carolina, because it seems to provide an rising community of electrical automobile battery crops within the area.
The ability, slated to interrupt floor in Q1 of 2023, will recycle, refine and manufacture anode and cathode parts. The plant will ultimately generate sufficient supplies to energy greater than 1 million EVs per yr, with room to broaden.
Cathode and anode supplies are “probably the most essential and costly parts in an EV,” the corporate stated. “Localizing the manufacturing of essential battery parts and making certain these supplies are recycled is the one option to drive down prices … whereas assembly U.S. battery and electrification demand.”
As of now, China controls the majority of the essential minerals wanted in every step of creating a lithium-ion battery. Except there’s a significant shift to producing and refining metals corresponding to lithium and nickel domestically, U.S. battery makers will spend an estimated $150 billion sourcing parts by 2030, in accordance with the discharge.
Leveraging reclaimed battery supplies might provide almost half of the nickel and cobalt and over 1 / 4 of the lithium wanted for gentle to heavy-duty EVs within the nation by 2050.
“We soak up end-of-life batteries, break them right down to their primary metals (like nickel, copper, cobalt and lithium) after which rebuild these metals into cathode and anode merchandise, probably the most essential and costly parts in an EV,” Redwood Supplies stated.
To match growing battery demand, the battery recycler stated its new location close to The Port of Charleston affords the chance to import uncooked supplies which it could actually refine on web site. The location moreover has entry to rail.
“This strategic location additionally permits us the chance to speculate extra closely at residence whereas probably exporting parts sooner or later.”