Porsche's battery recycling technology enters a new phase.
It seems Porsche is working on a project to repurpose used batteries into new Porsche batteries.
The announcement revealed that they have succeeded for the first time in manufacturing the "positive electrode active material" for new batteries using only raw materials recovered from used Porsche high-voltage batteries.
The positive electrode active material is apparently an important material that affects the performance of a battery.
In other words, they were able to completely replace the parts that previously relied on newly mined raw materials with materials recovered from used batteries.
That's quite amazing, isn't it?
New batteries are being manufactured from used Porsche batteries.
Porsche aims to create a system (realizing a circular economy) where valuable raw materials such as lithium and cobalt are recovered from used batteries and then used again in new Porsche batteries.
This achievement marks a new milestone toward realizing that goal, and in the long term, it is expected to lead to a more stable supply of essential raw materials.
This time, Porsche, in collaboration with partners such as the German recycling company "cylib," has succeeded for the first time in manufacturing battery cells using recycled cathode active material.
All the raw materials used for the positive electrode active material were recovered from Porsche's own high-voltage batteries, and currently, the battery cells manufactured in this demonstration project are undergoing extensive testing to simulate actual use.
Joachim Scharnagl, Porsche's board member for procurement, commented that the company has achieved a significant technological milestone by being able to manufacture battery cells from completely recycled raw materials such as lithium and cobalt.
This is considered an important step in promoting a circular economy and ensuring a stable supply of raw materials, aiming to optimize progress, quality, and resource efficiency.
This achievement represents a further development of the high-voltage battery recycling demonstration project that began last year, and the recycled cathode active material this time includes lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese.
Lilian Schwich, co-CEO and co-founder of cylib, explained that the company is responsible for the process of recovering raw materials from used batteries, and that this demonstration project has shown that the method actually works.
Porsche emphasizes not only the recovery of raw materials, but also the quality of the recycled materials. The next step will be to verify whether the recovered raw materials, when used in batteries, meet the high standards of value, quality, and performance that Porsche demands.
Initial tests have already demonstrated technical feasibility, and further test results are expected in the second half of 2026.
The insights gained from this demonstration project will serve as a basis for considering whether to adopt recycled materials in mass-produced battery cells in the future.
The results of the pilot project have already been incorporated into Porsche's regular battery disposal process. The partnership between Porsche and cylib has made it possible to recycle used high-voltage batteries collected from Porsche Centers throughout Germany, and since May 2026, batteries have been recycled using an innovative water-based process.
The recovered raw materials will be tracked and managed using a dedicated system, and from 2028, Porsche and selected partner companies will be able to use them in the manufacture of battery cells. In the future, recycled battery materials from Europe may be used in Porsche's high-voltage batteries.
What is Porsche's vision for a circular economy?
Porsche aims to ensure the long-term usability of its vehicles and the materials used in them, while responsibly using raw materials and conserving resources. To this end, as part of its sustainability strategy, Porsche is promoting the adoption of more environmentally friendly materials and circular systems throughout the entire vehicle value chain.
Specifically, this includes the circular reuse of high-voltage batteries, the use of recycled materials, waste reduction, and the remanufacturing of vehicle parts.
What is cylib, the company that collaborated with Porsche this time?
cylib is a battery recycling company founded in 2022 in Aachen, Germany, by Lilian Schwich, Paul Sabarny, and Gideon Schwich.
The company originated from research at RWTH Aachen University and aims to supply high-quality materials used in sustainable batteries and build a stable supply chain in Europe.
Within Germany, the company operates an integrated network that includes a research and development center at its headquarters in Aachen, a wet smelting facility currently under development in Dormagen, and a dismantling and mechanical processing facility in Wernberg-Köblitz.
Source:(Official)From Porsche to Porsche: Next Milestone in Battery Recycling
I'm Rika, the author of this article. Since I got my hands on a Porsche 911, I've been completely hooked on Porsches and I can't stop loving them, so I started this blog. My favorite cars are the 911 Carrera (2/991), 911 Carrera Cabriolet & 911 Carrera T (1/992), GT3 (1/997) and 718 Cayman GT4 RS.
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