Norwegian Car Importers' Association Introduces New Recycling Company - Processes 50,000 Used Electric Car Batteries Yearly
New Company to Streamline Electric Car Battery Recycling in Norway
The Norwegian Automobile Importers' Association (BIL) has established a new company, Autoretur Battery Recycling (ABR), to manage the growing number of used electric car batteries in Norway. The Norwegian Environment Agency has approved ABR to handle producer responsibility for high-energy batteries from electric vehicles on behalf of the entire industry.
Starting from November 1, ABR will replace the existing scheme through Autoretur. The company is expected to provide an efficient logistics system and reduced emissions by utilizing Autoretur's existing nationwide collection network.
Everyone who imports cars to Norway is required to be a member of an approved producer responsibility company. With over 50,000 electric car batteries estimated to need handling annually within five years, ABR will initially process 50,000 batteries annually. By 2035, the number of batteries is projected to exceed 100,000, and ABR plans to scale its capacity to meet this demand.
The batteries from electric cars are both environmentally hazardous and flammable if not treated correctly. ABR will ensure safe handling of used batteries, with advanced recycling processes including safe battery discharge, dismantling of various battery formats, mechanical and chemical separation of valuable materials, and refinement to battery-grade metals.
The valuable metals contained in electric car batteries can be recycled and used in new batteries. This circular economy approach emphasizes sustainability by promoting safe collection and treatment while minimizing environmental impact and emissions across the battery lifecycle.
Through the new company, car importers will receive a cost-effective and responsible solution that meets both regulatory requirements and customer expectations for sustainability, according to Harald J. Andersen, CEO of BIL. The comprehensive approach spearheaded by the Norwegian Automobile Importers' Association ensures efficient, compliant, and environmentally responsible management of the growing volume of used EV batteries anticipated over the next decade.
[1] Norwegian Automobile Importers' Association. (2025). Autoretur Battery Recycling. Retrieved from www.autoretur.no/battery-recycling
[2] Norwegian Environment Agency. (2025). Approval of Autoretur Battery Recycling. Retrieved from www.miljødirektoratet.no/batteri-og-avfall/batteri/batteri-i-forbruk/batteri-fra-elektriske-biler/abr
- To maintain the environmental integrity of Norway, Autoretur Battery Recycling (ABR), established by the Norwegian Automobile Importers' Association, will leverage advanced technology and environmentally-friendly procedures in the science of recycling, transforming valuable metals from electric car batteries into new ones, thereby fostering a sustainable finance model.
- By facilitating efficient logistics and safe handling of high-energy batteries from electric vehicles, Autoretur Battery Recycling (ABR) aims to bridge the gap between the increasing demand for recycling, driven by the growth of the environmental-science sector and the burgeoning industry of electric cars, and the need for a responsible, sustainable, and technologically-driven waste management system.
