Hydrovolt and BMW Group Norway enter partnership on services related to battery recycling
Hydrovolt has entered into a collaboration agreement with BMW Group Norway on battery recycling services for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the Norwegian market. The goal is to ensure that discarded EV batteries do not become an environmental issue but instead serve as valuable resources.
The collaboration entails that discarded EV batteries from BMW Group’s electric vehicles in Norway will be collected from various collection points across the country, diagnosed, and processed at Hydrovolt’s recycling facility in Fredrikstad.Norway is the first mature market for end-of-life EV batteries, paving the way for large-scale recycling solutions.
EV batteries contain a range of critical metals, for which global demand is rapidly increasing. These materials can be utilized more efficiently, reducing the need for new raw material extraction, while the production of new batteries has a lower environmental footprint.
The collaboration is closely aligned with BMW Group’s strategy for sustainability and circular economy.
“Strategic partnerships with recycling specialists like Hydrovolt enable the BMW Group to ensure responsible end-of-life management of high-voltage batteries while recovering valuable materials at high recovery rates and high quality,” says Margrethe Thømt, Customer Support Manager Norway.
Hydrovolt provides a complete service offering to car importers with a focus on safety, expertise, and high recycling rates. Through this partnership, responsible and efficient collection, assessment, handling, and recycling of BMW Group’s discarded EV batteries is ensured, achieving a total recycling rate of 99%.
“As the transport sector increasingly becomes more electrified, we must also take responsibility for the batteries at end-of-life. We are proud to collaborate with such a strong partner as BMW Group, who takes responsibility for the entire battery lifecycle,” says Hans Bjerkaas, Chief Commercial and Development Officer at Hydrovolt.
The collaboration agreement has been established as part of BMW Group Norway’s membership in the producer responsibility organization, Autoretur Battery Recycling. It is a long-term agreement that meets new requirements for producer responsibility and anticipates growth in discarded electric vehicles and new battery technologies in the years ahead.
About BMW Group Norway
With its four brands, BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries. In 2024, the BMW Group sold 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees. The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products – from the supply chain through production to the end of their useful life.
About Hydrovolt
Hydrovolt is a battery recycling company established in 2020. By pioneering battery recycling of EVs and industrial batteries, we create a circular solution for end-of-life batteries by producing high quality and sustainable secondary raw materials in a safe manner with minimal emissions. Hydrovolt is headquartered in Oslo while operating the Nordic’s largest battery recycling plant in Fredrikstad, Norway. See hydrovolt.com for more.