Source: Gasgoo
Japan and Europe will collaborate on the recycling and reuse of electric vehicle batteries. The two sides will establish a new system to share information about raw material extraction sites and mineral suppliers.
The system is set to launch in 2025 with the aim of reducing dependence on major suppliers of rare metals such as lithium, particularly China, to prevent the outflow of these strategic rare materials from Japan and Europe and to promote their reuse.
On April 22, the Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA), a subsidiary of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, signed a agreement with Europe on information sharing and mutual certification. Currently, both Japan and Europe have their own electronic platforms for managing electric vehicle battery information.
Image source: Toyota
Japan is developing its industrial data platform called “Ouranos Ecosystem” , which is expected to involve around 50 companies, including automotive giants like Toyota, Nissan, and Honda. Additionally, the joint venture battery company Prime Planet Energy & Solutions, a collaboration between Toyota and Panasonic, will also be part of it.
On the European side, the public-private joint data platform Catena-X, led by automotive manufacturers such as BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Group, is already in operation. Japan and Europe plan to connect the Ouranos and Catena-X platforms by 2025. However, confidential information related to the core competitiveness of Japanese companies, such as suppliers and procurement amounts, will not be shared.
The main purpose of this collaboration is to share information about the materials currently used in batteries and to track them in order to prevent outflows. Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that lithium processed and refined in China accounts for 65% of the global total, and lithium is a key component of electric vehicle batteries. China also accounts for half of all refining plant construction projects by 2030.
By sharing production and material supply chain information, Japanese and European companies will be able to collectively procure raw materials, thereby reducing costs and promoting collaborative development of efficient battery components. Ultimately, the Japan-Europe alliance will also require battery manufacturers from other countries, including China, to comply with its information disclosure rules.
Previously, the EU decided to introduce regulations requiring companies to recycle materials from electric vehicle batteries such as lithium and cobalt in the region. To comply with this requirement, “battery passports” like Catena-X and Ouranos will be needed to record and manage information about the entire supply chain, including the original country of materials, production history, recycling rates, and carbon dioxide emissions. This system will enable Japanese companies certified by Uranos to automatically obtain certification in the EU.
