Nissan JV Opens Plant to Recycle Used EV Batteries

4R Energy Corp., a joint venture between Nissan Motor Co. and Sumitomo Corp., is opening a plant in Namie, Japan, to recycle and fabricate lithium-ion batteries from out-of-service hybrid and electric vehicles.

The facility is said to be the first in Japan that will recycle used lithium-ion EV batteries. The devices are expected to come from a variety of electrified vehicle brands.

Sales of refabricated battery packs will start in May. A refurbished 24-kWh lithium-ion battery from a retired Nissan Leaf will cost 300,000 yen (about $2,800), compared with 650,000 yen ($6,200) for an all-new unit. A new 40-kWh battery pack costs as much as 820,000 yen ($7,800).

The recycled batteries also are expected to be used in electric forklifts and large-scale storage devices. 4R will use its proprietary technology to measure the condition of used batteries to determine potential post-recycling applications.

The joint venture, which was formed in 2010, also will use the Namie facility as the company’s global research and development center. The facility is the first new plant in Namie since the town was devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011.