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Honda to Recycle Rare Earth Metals From Car Parts

First of its kind recycling process to begin this month in Japan.

By Claire_Martin Apr 18, 2012 11:06AM
Honda Insight photo by HondaStarting later this month, Honda will start extracting rare earth metals from the used batteries of its hybrid vehicles and recycling them for new-car parts. The automaker is partnering with Japan Metals & Chemicals Co. to execute the program.

"The new operation will be the first in the world to extract rare earth metals as part of a mass-production process at a recycling plant," according to Honda's press release.

Here's how the process will work: Honda will take rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries collected from its hybrid vehicles both inside and outside of Japan. The automaker will be able to extract as much as 80% of rare earth metals contained in the nickel-metal hydride batteries. 

Honda had already been recycling scrap containing nickel as a raw material of stainless steel, but its partnership with Japan Metals & Chemicals will allow it to stabilize the process and thereby mass-recycle the extremely valuable metals with a purity as high as if they'd been newly mined and refined.

Honda recycling diagram by Honda.Eventually, the carmaker will also extract rare earth metals from other parts. All of the recycled rare earth metals will go into constructing the nickel-metal hydride batteries of its hybrid models -- the Civic Hybrid and Insight -- as well as various other Honda parts.  

[Sources: Gizmag, Honda]
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