MG Motor India Associates with Umicore for Recycling end-of-life ZS EV Batteries

by Suman Gupta

New Delhi: In a move that underscores its commitment towards sustainability, MG (Morris Garages) Motor announced its association with Umicore to explore opportunities in safe and sustainable recycling of end-of-life batteries for electric vehicles. Umicore is one of few companies that offer a complete recycling journey for Li-ion batteries to maintain ecological footprint. Umicore holds extensive expertise in end-to-end battery life cycle management and a unique battery value chain that guarantees better operational efficiency, supply security and speed of response.

Speaking on the tie-up, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Officer, MG Motor India, said, “Over the past few months, we have worked towards creating the right ecosystem for our customers ahead of the launch of the ZS EV, including charging infrastructure. Our association with Umicore focuses on exploring end-of-life applications for used EV battery packs, for environment-friendly battery disposal.”

Kedar Rele, Country General Manager, Umicore India, added, “We are extremely delighted to associate with MG which is focused on harnessing the EV ecosystem in India, underscoring an important opportunity to overhaul our energy infrastructure and make necessary investments in renewables and new grid technologies, for a sustainable future.”

MG is addressing concerns about the disposal of end-of-life EV batteries for recycling. Umicore is excited to offer our ‘closed loop’ sustainable recycling solution for minimal waste and minimal impact on the environment. This is vital to the commitment of facilitating EV adoption and catalysing India’s nascent EV revolution.

Last week, MG (Morris Garages) Motor India had announced its partnership with Exicom Tele-Systems for second-life use of ZS EV batteries to design custom battery packs for non-automotive applications.

The association, which comes ahead of the imminent launch of MG ZS EV in India, marks yet another initiative taken by the marquee carmaker to facilitate EV adoption and catalyse India’s EV revolution.

MG Motor India has also launched #ChangeWhatYouCan, a global campaign featuring Benedict Cumberbatch that raises awareness about the critical need to shift towards green mobility.

About MG Motor India: Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world-famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has thousands of loyal fans, making it one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic and innovative brand over the last 95 years. MG Motor India has commenced its manufacturing operations at its car manufacturing plant at Halol in Gujarat.

About Umicore: Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group. It focuses on application areas where its expertise in materials science, chemistry and metallurgy makes a real difference. Its activities are organised in three business groups: Catalysis, Energy & Surface Technologies and Recycling. Each business group is divided into market-focused business units offering materials and solutions that are at the cutting edge of new technological developments and essential to everyday life. Umicore generates most of its revenues and dedicates most of its R&D efforts to clean mobility materials and recycling. Umicore’s overriding goal of sustainable value creation is based on an ambition to develop, produce and recycle materials in a way that fulfils its mission: materials for a better life. Umicore’s industrial and commercial operations as well as R&D activities are located across the world to best serve its global customer base. The Group generated revenues (excluding metal) of € 1.6 billion (turnover of € 7.6 billion) in the first half of 2019 and currently employs 10,700 people.