Cyclic Materials, Lime partner to recycle electric motors from US, Canadian micromobility fleet

Published: 2025-05-20 19:17 Author: Amanda Stutt

Source: MINING.COM (Original Article)

AI Analysis & Insights

Cyclic Materials and Lime Team Up for Rare Earth Magnet Recycling in North American Micromobility

Summary: Cyclic Materials, an Ontario-based rare earths recycler, has partnered with Lime, the world's largest shared micromobility electric vehicle provider, to recycle rare earth magnets from retired e-bike and e-scooter motors across the US and Canada. This pioneering initiative, processing materials from over 90,000 vehicles annually, aims to address the low global recycling rate of rare earth magnets and promote sustainability in clean transportation.

Introduction

Cyclic Materials and Lime have announced a groundbreaking partnership to recycle rare earth magnets from decommissioned electric motors of e-bikes and e-scooters in the United States and Canada. This collaboration, revealed on Tuesday, marks the first large-scale recycling effort of its kind in North America's micromobility sector, focusing on a critical yet underutilized resource.

Main Body

Under the agreement, Cyclic Materials will serve as Lime’s preferred recycler for rare earth magnets in North America, handling materials from over 90,000 vehicles each year, which translates to at least 500 tonnes of material annually. Lime, which operates a fleet of more than 270,000 electric vehicles, will send decommissioned motors to Cyclic’s facilities in Mesa, Arizona, and Kingston, Ontario, for processing. The partnership leverages Cyclic’s innovative MagCycle and REEPure technologies to recover rare earth elements from end-of-life vehicles, addressing a significant gap in the recycling ecosystem.

Globally, less than 1% of rare earth magnets are recycled, creating what industry experts call an 'above-ground mine' of untapped resources. According to Adamas Intelligence, the US alone is expected to have over 43,000 metric tonnes of end-of-life NdFeB magnets by 2035. This collaboration between Cyclic and Lime sets a new standard for circularity in clean mobility, aligning with broader sustainability goals and the push for a resilient supply chain of rare earth elements—materials critical to clean energy technologies.

From an editorial perspective, this partnership is a timely response to the growing demand for sustainable practices in the clean energy sector. With rare earth elements being pivotal to technologies like electric vehicles and wind turbines, the recycling of these materials could mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities, especially given geopolitical tensions surrounding rare earth mining. However, questions remain: Can this model scale to other sectors beyond micromobility? And how will the economics of recycling compare to mining new materials in the long term? These are critical considerations as the world transitions to a net-zero future.

Conclusion

The Cyclic Materials and Lime partnership is a significant step toward sustainable resource management in the micromobility industry. By recycling rare earth magnets at scale, the initiative not only supports Lime’s net-zero ambitions but also sets a precedent for other industries to follow. As operations begin in the coming weeks, with a ramp-up planned for 2025, this collaboration could pave the way for a more circular economy in clean energy technologies.

Conclusion:

The partnership between Cyclic Materials and Lime represents a forward-thinking approach to recycling rare earth magnets, addressing a critical need in the clean energy supply chain. As the initiative unfolds, it has the potential to inspire broader adoption of circular practices across industries, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Cyclic Materials与Lime合作，推动北美微型移动领域稀土磁铁回收

摘要: 总部位于安大略省的稀土回收公司Cyclic Materials与全球最大的共享微型移动电动车提供商Lime宣布合作，将在美加两国回收退役电动自行车和电动滑板车电机中的稀土磁铁。这项开创性举措每年将处理超过9万辆车的材料，旨在解决稀土磁铁全球回收率低的问题，并推动清洁交通的可持续发展。

引言

Cyclic Materials与Lime宣布了一项具有开创性的合作，旨在在美国和加拿大回收退役电动自行车和电动滑板车电机中的稀土磁铁。这项合作于周二公布，是北美微型移动领域首次大规模的稀土磁铁回收项目，聚焦于一种关键但未被充分利用的资源。

正文

根据协议，Cyclic Materials将成为Lime在北美的首选稀土磁铁回收商，每年处理超过9万辆车的材料，相当于至少500吨材料。Lime目前拥有超过27万辆电动车车队，将把退役电机送往Cyclic位于亚利桑那州梅萨和安大略省金斯顿的工厂进行处理。该合作利用Cyclic的MagCycle和REEPure技术从报废车辆中回收稀土元素，填补了回收体系中的重要空白。

全球范围内，稀土磁铁的回收率不到1%，形成了行业专家所谓的“地上矿山”，即大量未被利用的资源。据Adamas Intelligence数据，到2035年，仅美国就预计将有超过4.3万吨报废的NdFeB磁铁。Cyclic与Lime的合作在清洁移动领域树立了循环经济的新标杆，符合更广泛的可持续性目标，并推动稀土元素供应链的韧性——这些材料对清洁能源技术至关重要。

从编辑角度来看，这项合作是对清洁能源领域可持续实践日益增长需求的及时回应。稀土元素对电动车和风力涡轮机等技术至关重要，回收这些材料可能缓解供应链的脆弱性，尤其是在稀土开采地缘政治紧张的背景下。然而，仍有疑问：这一模式能否扩展到微型移动以外的其他领域？长期来看，回收的经济性与开采新材料相比如何？这些是世界向净零未来过渡时需要考虑的关键问题。

结论

Cyclic Materials与Lime的合作是微型移动行业可持续资源管理的重要一步。通过大规模回收稀土磁铁，该举措不仅支持Lime的净零目标，还为其他行业树立了榜样。随着项目在未来几周内启动，并计划在2025年加速推进，这项合作可能为清洁能源技术的循环经济铺平道路。

结论:

Cyclic Materials与Lime的合作代表了一种前瞻性的稀土磁铁回收方式，满足了清洁能源供应链中的关键需求。随着项目的展开，它有潜力激励更多行业采纳循环实践，为更可持续的未来做出贡献。