Nissan and Stena Recycling have entered a strategic partnership to develop and expand the reuse of second-life electric vehicle batteries in Norway. With over 80,000 Nissan LEAFs on Norwegian roads, Nissan has established a new value chain for batteries that are no longer suitable for road use.
The partnership combines Stena Recycling’s expertise in recycling and reuse with Nissan’s experience in electric vehicle technology, laying the foundation for a circular business model that maximizes the value of used batteries.
Unlike many operators who focus solely on extracting raw materials from entire batteries, Stena Recycling takes a more sustainable approach. Each battery is carefully diagnosed at the facility in Ausenfjellet, near Oslo, to determine which parts can be reused and which need to be recycled.
Used EV batteries still have substantial value, and the partnership between Stena Recycling and Nissan ensures that a significant portion of battery components get a new lease on life—either as components in batteries requiring service and repair or in energy storage systems for an additional 10 to 15 years. According to Jon Emil Furuseth, Country Manager High Energy Batteries at Stena Recycling, this approach can extract much more value than simply breaking down the batteries into new materials and minerals.
Nissan also sees great potential in the partnership. “Since launching the Nissan LEAF in 2011, we have developed unique expertise in EV technology. Now we want to take a leading role in the sustainable treatment of used EV batteries,” says Alan Low, EV Battery Circular Economy Manager for Nissan Energy “Through this partnership, we can offer second-life products while helping to reduce the environmental footprint in line with our ambitions for carbon neutrality by 2050.”
The agreement gives Stena Recycling access to a steady supply of used batteries, which is crucial in a market where competition for resources is increasing. These are batteries from cars decommissioned due to age or written off by insurance companies, but they still have the potential to be reused for several years.
With Nissan’s leading position and expertise in EV batteries, combined with Stena Recycling’s extensive experience and competence in reuse and recycling, the two companies are now exploring the possibilities of commercializing a process that ensures safe localization and transportation, dismantling, repair, and reuse of EV batteries, allowing them to have a second life in new applications.
The new facility at Ausenfjellet, partially funded by Enova, plays a vital role in developing a circular economy. Here, recycling and reuse are balanced to give used EV batteries a new life. The collaboration with partners also enables the integration of repaired modules into new EVs or stationary energy storage systems.
Through the agreement with Nissan Automotive Europe, Stena Recycling strengthens its position as a key player in the recycling of EV batteries in Norway. The partnership contributes to the green transition by reducing waste and maximizing resource utilization, while also combining profitability with sustainability.
