Porsche has successfully produced EV battery cells made entirely from recycled lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese through a pilot program with German recycler cylib, with plans to scale production beginning in 2028. This initiative marks a strategic shift in the automotive industry from recycling for compliance to using recycled materials as a primary procurement strategy to secure supply chains and reduce lifecycle emissions.
- Porsche created battery cells from 100% recycled metals (lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese) using a water-based recycling method
- The pilot program launched with German recycler cylib, processing end-of-life batteries from Porsche Centres since May
- Recycled material volumes are expected to be available for cell manufacturing beginning in 2028
- The initiative shifts industry focus from recycling as compliance to recycling as strategic procurement to hedge supply risks and manage Scope 3 emissions
- Key success metrics include repeatable quality at volume, cost competitiveness versus primary materials, and verified end-to-end recycled-content documentation
A German OEM is announcing it has produced an EV battery cell made entirely from recycled metals.
Porsche has produced battery cells made entirely from recycled lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. The cells were created under a high‑voltage battery‑recycling pilot launched with partners including German recycler cylib, which has been processing end‑of‑life high‑voltage batteries collected through Porsche Centres in Germany since May using a water‑based recycling method.
Porsche is testing the new cells in its vehicles and plans to track recovered materials through a dedicated “material account,” with volumes expected to be available for cell manufacturing beginning in 2028.
Madhuchhanda Palit, senior automotive analyst at GlobalData, said the initiative reflects a shift in how automakers approach recycled materials. “Strategically, Porsche’s move aligns with a broader industry pivot from ‘recycling as compliance’ to ‘recycling as procurement,’ where closed‑loop material access can hedge against supply shocks and help manage lifecycle emissions accounting—especially as automakers face increasing scrutiny over Scope 3 impacts and mineral provenance.”
Palit said the project supports Germany’s position in the battery value chain at a time when Asian suppliers dominate cathode and precursor processing. She noted that scaling hydro-metallurgical capacity and integrating dismantling‑to‑refining workflows could reinforce domestic competence in high‑value chemical processing.
“If operational testing confirms performance parity and consistent quality, the project could also influence how German OEMs structure supplier contracts—shifting toward off=take models for recycled metals and encouraging investment in local recycling hubs to meet future demand and regulatory reporting requirements.”
She added that Porsche’s fully recycled‑cathode cells remain at pilot scale but indicate that technical feasibility is converging with regulatory and strategic necessity. Palit said the key indicators to watch include repeatable quality at volume, economics versus primary materials, and the ability to document recycled‑content claims end‑to‑end.
The development comes as GM continues tightening restrictions on the use of non‑new components in collision repairs. In 2026, GM issued updated guidance prohibiting the use of used, salvaged, recycled, reconditioned, or re-manufactured parts in repairs involving structural components, safety systems, and advanced driver‑assistance technologies. GM has stated that such parts cannot be verified to meet engineering specifications or calibration requirements.
