Germany – IAV GmbH, a manufacturer of automotive components based in Berlin, announced a concept for a new kind of battery system which will be easier to recycle and therefore more eco-friendly. The battery concept, which will be designed for use in current and future battery-electric vehicles, is projected to lead to a life-cycle reduction of 20% in CO₂ emissions over that of a conventional battery. 

The concept outlines a new module and battery housing design which will be made mostly of recyclable materials, and which will be easier to assemble and disassemble. IAV aims to reduce bolted connections by two-thirds compared with a conventional battery housing, by using fewer screws and more click and plug-in connections. In addition, the concept uses steel, which can be separated more easily and with less energy than aluminium. Employing steel instead of aluminium, according to IAV, will increase the weight by only 1-1.5%, and thus it will have a negligible impact on driving performance and range. IAV ultimately aims to reduce the cost of production and recycling by up to 50% as compared with a conventional battery system.