BMW i4 eDrive40 battery recycling in Yokohama, Kanagawa
Yokohama, Kanagawa is a diagnostics site: BMW i4 eDrive40 packs arrive here from intake yards for module-level capacity, resistance and impedance testing, which decides reuse or refining.
Pack value at 80% SOH
3,932 USD
Hybrid Split
Second-life share
47%
At 80% SOH
Site capacity
21,000 TPA
Cell Grading & Diagnostics
Cities served
3
From Yokohama, Kanagawa
Where a BMW i4 eDrive40 pack goes from Yokohama, Kanagawa
- 1
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea
Whole packs enter the network at Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus, 935 km away, where they are weighed and de-energised.
- 2
Module grading at Yokohama, Kanagawa
All 8 modules are tested for capacity, DC resistance and impedance, then assigned grade A to D.
- 3
Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden
At 80% SOH about 47% of the pack qualifies for reuse and goes to Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus (8,567 km). Good — grade-A modules above 80% SOH qualify for commercial-scale BESS strings.
- 4
Refined at Ningde, Fujian
Remaining modules are shredded to black mass and refined at Ningde — Fujian Refining Base, 2,142 km away.
| Stage | Facility | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nearest intake yard | Ulsan — Korea Recovery Campus | 935 km |
| Nearest second-life works | Gothenburg — Nordic Second-Life Campus | 8,567 km |
| Nearest refinery | Ningde — Fujian Refining Base | 2,142 km |
Faster option
Inside the BMW i4 eDrive40 battery
The BMW i4 eDrive40 (2022) carries a 83.9 kWh NMC 811 Cylindrical 2170 pack with 8 modules at 398 V, weighing roughly 470 kg. High-nickel cylindrical cells with the strongest hydrometallurgical recovery credit per tonne of black mass.
| Service year | SOH | Grade | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 94.5% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,244 |
| Year 4 | 90.2% | A — BESS ready | USD 5,035 |
| Year 6 | 85.9% | A — BESS ready | USD 4,754 |
| Year 8 | 81.6% | B — Second life | USD 4,135 |
| Year 10 | 77.3% | B — Second life | USD 3,625 |
What the chemistry means here
How it ages
NMC 811 loses capacity through a mix of SEI growth, cathode surface reconstruction and micro-cracking of nickel-rich particles. Resistance climbs faster than in LFP, which matters as much as capacity for second-life duty.
Thermal behaviour
High-nickel NMC cathodes release oxygen as they decompose, so once runaway starts it is fast and energetic. Cylindrical 2170 cells vent through a designed rupture point, which helps, but cell-to-cell propagation inside a tightly packed module is the main hazard.
Handling NMC 811 (2170)
Collecting a BMW i4 eDrive40 pack
83.9 kWh, 8 modules, about 470 kg — this is how the Yokohama, Kanagawa team plans the job.
Removal
Packs are dropped on a vehicle lift using the OEM procedure and a rated battery table, then isolated at the service disconnect.
Packaging
One pack per UN-rated pallet box, strapped and restrained, with terminals capped and coolant ports sealed.
Consolidation
Dealer and workshop returns are consolidated into full truckloads, typically eight or more packs per run.
Before the truck arrives
- Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage
- Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting
- Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage
- Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest
Yokohama, Kanagawa site notes
- Provide serial lists and vehicle information.
- Engineering packs need architecture details.
- Damaged packs require declaration.
- Port-linked shipments need documents in advance.
What this pack yields
lithium
4.77 kg
nickel
30.82 kg
cobalt
3.82 kg
manganese
3.55 kg
copper
15.28 kg
aluminium
12.82 kg
Refining-route estimate at 80% SOH. Measured module health on the bench sets the final split.
Rules in Japan
Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources and the End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Act
Regulator: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment
The works operates under Japanese waste and recycling laws, including the rules for end-of-life vehicle recycling. Transport follows Japanese dangerous goods regulations.
BMW i4 eDrive40 in Yokohama, Kanagawa: common questions
Can I drop off a BMW i4 eDrive40 battery at Yokohama, Kanagawa?
Yokohama, Kanagawa is a cell grading & diagnostics and does not accept whole packs from customers. Book a collection and the pack enters the network at Ulsan, South Korea, 935 km away.
What happens to BMW i4 eDrive40 modules after Yokohama, Kanagawa?
Collected via Ulsan, South Korea, then Module grading at Yokohama, Kanagawa, then Second life at Gothenburg, Sweden, then Refined at Ningde, Fujian. At 80% SOH roughly 47% of the pack goes to second life and the rest is refined.
How should a BMW i4 eDrive40 pack be prepared for pickup?
Pull the service disconnect and record pack voltage. Drain or cap coolant lines before lifting. Photograph the pack casing and any impact damage. Keep the VIN and pack serial together on the manifest.
Which rules apply to BMW i4 eDrive40 recycling in Japan?
Act on the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources and the End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling Act, overseen by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of the Environment. Lithium-ion batteries move as dangerous goods under national road and marine rules, with UN 3480 / UN 3481 packaging.
Cities collected by Yokohama, Kanagawa
BMW i4 eDrive40 at other sites
Retiring BMW i4 eDrive40 packs near Yokohama, Kanagawa?
Share pack counts and condition. The despatch desk confirms a collection window within one working day and sends the right packaging.