Mazda, Infinitev announce strategic partnership

MAZDA Australia has announced a strategic collaboration with Melbourne-based battery remanufacturing and repurposing specialist Infinitev to deliver electrified vehicle battery lifecycle management services, following a similar agreement made between Infinitev and Kia Australia in October last year.

These partnerships help establish a battery recycling ecosystem said to provide consumers with sustainable options to reduce the overall carbon footprint for their electrified vehicle.

Infinitev has developed what it says is a comprehensive suite of battery lifecycle management solutions, levering its cutting-edge research and development as well as more than four decades expertise in automotive electronics re-engineering.

“We are proud to have a holistic solution that addresses the environmental concerns associated with EV batteries,” said Infinitev general manager Dickson Leow.

“Our innovative reuse approach ensures that the transition to a circular economy is not only sustainable but also reduces waste and preserves valuable resources. Through responsible battery management, we can accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and build a greener Australia.

“As part of this intensive multistage process each battery undergoes a series of rigorous testing and safety checks. This ensures a clean and safe environment when we work with Mazda’s EV batteries.”

When an electrified vehicle’s traction battery pack degrades in performance or malfunctions, Infinitev initiates a rigorous testing protocol starting with a safety check that meticulously examines both the physical and electrochemical state of an EV battery, followed by performance evaluations of the battery pack and its individual modules using sophisticated diagnostic equipment.

The company says this comprehensive assessment enables it to categorise battery modules into three distinct categories comprising A-grade (to be reused to build batteries for EV traction); B-grade (to be repurposed for battery energy storage systems); and  C-grade (to be recycled to recover valuable materials).

With Australian demand for electrified vehicles forecast to double between now and the end of the decade, Infinitive says establishing clean and sustainable lifecycle management of their batteries will become a vital part of the Australian economy.

Infinitev says its unique recycling system seeks to create not only long-term benefit for Australian motorists, but a new ecosystem that will maximises the use of electrified vehicle battery packs.

“As we continue to expand our line-up with electrified models such as the first-ever, all-hybrid Mazda CX-60 and CX-90 that each benefit from sophisticated battery technologies, it’s essential that we maintain a sustainable, multi-solution approach to this important aspect of a vehicles’ life cycle,” said Mazda Australia marketing director Alastair Doak.

“The holistic recycling process provided by Infinitev will therefore be a key solution in giving valuable ‘second life’ opportunities to the batteries used in our vehicles.”