Complete service for old batteries

Start-up LiBCycle takes complete care of used e-car batteries

The two entrepreneurs had the idea for LiBCycle while students at TUM. The first business plan emerged during the TUM Entrepreneurial Masterclass, where students can write their Master's theses and prepare to found their start-ups. After completing the class, Philipp Brunotte went on to found LiBCycle with Áron Németh. "In the beginning we were focused on our transport containers, but based on our customers' wishes it was soon obvious that we'd have to take a holistic approach. So we took on the logistics and the recycling together with partner companies," recalls Philipp Brunotte, who completed his Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering and Management at TUM, describing the evolution of today's company. Nevertheless the spotlight is still on the transport container developed by the two founders. They made the first prototypes in TUM's MakerSpace, a high-tech workshop where founders can take their ideas from the drawing board to reality. Breaking away from the conventional industry approach, the LiBCycle box doesn't use loose materials as filler to separate the individual battery modules; instead it uses flexible fiberglass cushions. This is a more sustainable solution which also simplifies handling and cuts the time needed for the driver to load the containers. The patent application for the container and its components has already been submitted.

Thanks to an investor from the logistics sector, the young company is now also capable not only of handling packaging, but the complete transport of old, defective and destroyed batteries, exactly what the market is currently calling for. Automobile manufacturers are eager to outsource the entire end-of-service-life process for vehicle batteries. The company is thus doing its part for sustainable electric mobility, since the growing number of electric cars is consuming a considerable amount of finite resources such as rare earth metals. Circular Economy makes it possible to use these resources longer or to recycle them for use in new batteries. And after only one year LiBCycle is already "Cashflow-positive", i.e. the founders are taking in more money than they have to spend. Although the company has up to now primarily limited its operations to Germany and neighboring countries, in the future the company plans to move into the international market.