In 1991, Sony brought the first rechargeable lithium-ion battery to market.
The unique chemistry proved a game-changer in energy storage.
Today everything from EVs to smartphones depends on it, with demandskyrocketing.
Were stuck in a paradox.
Munich-based startup Tozero believes that battery recycling offers a way out.
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When the pair first met, they were working in the space industry.
Three years later they teamed up to fix a pressing issue here on Earth.
This powdery substance is produced after shredding and processing spent batteries.
Neumanns research gave Tozero a significant head-start.
Other investors include automotive giant Honda, US venture firm In-Q-Tel, and engineering group JGC.
Tozero will use the fresh capital to build its first industrial deployment plant.
From 2026 onwards, the company plans to process 30,000 tonnes of battery waste annually.
Tozero can technically just keep on growing as long as it receives a continuous supply of old batteries.
And that shouldnt be too much of an issue.
Lithium-ion production is set to almostquadruple by 2030.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
