Honda, Japan Metals & Chemicals Recycle Rare Earth from NiMH Battery

Honda Motor and Japan Metals & Chemicals announced on Tuesday they jointly established the world first process to extract rare earths from used automotive parts on Honda products in the mass production process of the recycling plants. They will start rare earth extraction from used nickel hydride batteries on hybrid cars in late April.

Used nickel hydride batteries have been heat-processed and recycled into stainless steel materials as nickel containing scrap. Japan Metals & Chemicals successfully established stable rare earths extraction at its plant. The technology realizes extraction of rare earths as pure as mined and refined rare earths in the mass production process.

More than 80% of rare earths can be recovered from used nickel hydride batteries. Recycled rare earths will be utilized for new nickel hydride batteries and other various applications of Honda products. Honda tries to apply the technology to other used car components, too.