Electric cars: Mercedes-Benz cooperates with Canada on battery raw materials
Mercedes has agreed to intensify its cooperation with Canada on primary raw materials for its European battery production. First of all, it is about lithium.
Battery of a Mercedes AMG
(Bild: Mercedes)
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Mercedes-Benz has agreed on more intensive cooperation with the Canadian government on the value chain for electric cars. Particular attention is being paid to the primary sources of raw materials for battery production. The project includes a plan for a strategic partnership with the mining company Rock Tech, which will supply Mercedes with lithium.
The car manufacturer is in urgent need of finding new reliable and productive sources, because with the ramp-up of electromobility, demand is growing for cobalt and lithium in particular, but also nickel, graphite, manganese and copper. Mercedes-Benz has announced that it intends to sell only battery-electric cars by the end of the decade, with the exception of markets where the conditions are not (yet) met. Strategic direct procurement of the necessary raw materials thus becomes much more important.
Mercedes-Benz is considering a strategic partnership with the German-Canadian start-up Rock Tech Lithium Inc. Rock Tech is to supply Mercedes-Benz and its battery partners with up to 10,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide annually from 2026.
Battery production to be moved to Germany
In its statement, Mercedes-Benz emphasises that "its raw material comes from IRMA*-audited mines and is processed with the help of renewable energy sources. The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurances (IRMA) aims to establish standards for socially responsible and environmentally friendly mining and to certify mines accordingly.
The lithium is to be processed in Germany, Mercedes plans to "localise the European production of state-of-the-art battery cells". Therefore, Rock Tech hopes to offer the car manufacturer a "more resilient and sustainable lithium supply chain". The company is building Europe's first lithium hydroxide converter in Guben, Brandenburg.
Volkswagen has also announced investments in Canadian mines to secure its electric car production with battery materials from Canada. During the visit of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) to Canada, Mercedes and Volkswagen signed declarations of intent in Toronto to cooperate in the field of battery raw materials.
(fpi)