PEM Motion and our network partners hosted a battery training course at the University of Costa Rica in the capital San José. We worked closely with GIZ Costa Rica, FORTECH CR, and the Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) chair from the RWTH Aachen University to produce a course focused on battery technologies that highlighted production, recycling and opportunities for re-use and re-purposing. This training course was designed specifically for a small consortium with goal of creating sustainable battery supply chain.
The training capped off a much larger project in which PEM Motion and our partners supported the development of an ecosystem for collecting and recycling lithium batteries with the goal of increasing institutional knowledge of battery recycling within Costa Rica. We were able to leverage our experience and network to analyze and validate Costa Rica’s current approach to the recycling of lithium batteries, in addition to a full life-cycle analysis of battery-powered devices. PEM Motion provided trainings to enable various institutions with the know-how and background information on remanufacturing, so that they could provide their own trainings and continue to spread vital information among their fellow Costa Ricans.
Costa Rica has established itself as a frontrunner in fighting climate change and decreasing carbon emissions throughout the last few decades. Its “Decarbonization Plan 2050” established aggressive targets that include 30% utilization of electric buses and cars by 2035. To avoid a shortage of access to critical resources and mass exploitation of strategic metals used in battery production, old battery packs must be recycled and transformed into new materials. Many companies are actively collecting used batteries, but only a few are capable of processing them into recycled materials. The consortium project is a step in the right direction and supports the development of recycling capacity that will keep Costa Rica as a leader in sustainable technologies.
In the long run, Costa Ricans will be able to shape their own future in terms of waste and resource management while creating economic prosperity, growth, and opportunities for learning and innovation. We are proud to have been a part of this consortium that has the potential to have a positive impact on millions of Costa Ricans and set an example for the global community.
