When cycling innovation meets environmental responsibility: Specialized is teaming up with Redwood Materials to rethink and reshape battery recycling for e-bikes.
This collaboration marks a bold step towards a sustainable future in mobility. Specialized, one of the world’s leading e-bike manufacturers, has joined forces with Redwood Materials, a pioneer in eco-conscious resource recovery, to tackle one of the most pressing issues in the e-mobility world: What happens to batteries when they reach the end of their life?
But this partnership goes far beyond recycling. Redwood Materials will help Specialized not only recover key raw materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, but also improve product design – ensuring that future e-bike batteries are easier and more efficient to recycle.
The first recycling program for Specialized e-bike batteries launched in the United States by the end of 2021, with plans to expand globally starting in 2022. A clear commitment to creating a circular economy in electric mobility.
Why It Matters
More than two-thirds of all car trips are 10 miles (16 km) or less – and they’re also the most carbon-intensive. That’s where e-bikes shine: faster in urban traffic, cheaper per mile, and drastically lower in CO₂ emissions. Millions of e-bikes are already replacing car trips worldwide, making them one of the most effective tools in climate action.
But with the boom comes responsibility. Battery waste is a growing concern – and Specialized is not waiting for regulation. The company is taking action to reduce its environmental impact and fulfill its mission: to inspire riders everywhere while creating long-lasting, responsibly made products.
Redwood Materials brings the technical know-how to the table, using low-energy, sustainable recycling processes and reintegrating recovered materials into new products. The vision: What once powered your e-bike could soon be powering your next one.
A Signal to the Industry
Specialized and Redwood plan to share their learnings around logistics and recycling with other brands and organizations in the micromobility sector. The goal: a shared recycling infrastructure that benefits the entire industry.
The e-bike revolution is here – and thanks to smart partnerships like this one, it’s not only gaining speed, but also sustainability.
👉 Learn more about Specialized’s sustainability efforts here.
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