Cyclic Lime Rare Earth Recycling Partnership Targets Electric Scooter Motor Magnets

Cyclic Materials

Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling partnership launched as Canadian recycler Cyclic Materials contracted with electric scooter company Lime to recover rare earth elements from decommissioned motors. The Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling collaboration will process magnets from Lime's retired electric bike and scooter fleet across US and Canadian operations, establishing a circular economy model for critical materials recovery from urban mobility infrastructure.

Hydrometallurgical Processing Creates Closed-Loop Supply Chain

Cyclic Lime rare earth recycling operations will utilize Cyclic's dual-facility processing network spanning Mesa, Arizona, and Kingston, Ontario. The Kingston facility employs hydrometallurgical processes to produce mixed rare earth oxide from recovered magnet materials. Mesa represents Cyclic's first US processing location, expanding the company's geographic reach for North American rare earth recycling operations.

Meanwhile, the partnership targets Lime's substantial fleet of over 270,000 electric bikes and scooters operating across 280 cities globally. This scale provides consistent feedstock volumes for rare earth recovery operations while addressing end-of-life disposal challenges for electric mobility devices. The collaboration demonstrates practical applications of circular economy principles in urban transportation sectors.

Scaling Operations Address Growing E-Mobility Waste Streams

However, Cyclic and Lime plan operational commencement within weeks, with activity scaling throughout 2025 as fleet retirement cycles mature. The timing aligns with growing volumes of first-generation electric scooters and bikes reaching end-of-life status after several years of intensive urban deployment. This natural replacement cycle creates predictable feedstock availability for recycling operations.

Therefore, the partnership addresses critical material recovery from permanent magnets containing neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium essential for motor performance. These rare earth elements maintain high value and strategic importance for electric vehicle and renewable energy applications. Recovery operations reduce dependence on primary mining while supporting domestic rare earth supply chain resilience.

Urban Mobility Recycling Model Demonstrates Industry Leadership

Furthermore, Lime's commitment to rare earth recycling complements existing battery recycling partnerships with companies like Redwood Materials. This comprehensive approach to component recycling establishes industry best practices for sustainable electric mobility operations. The integrated recycling strategy addresses both battery and motor component end-of-life management across Lime's global fleet.

As a result, the Cyclic partnership positions Lime as a leader in sustainable urban mobility practices while creating valuable secondary rare earth supply sources. The collaboration demonstrates how service-based mobility companies can contribute to critical materials circularity while managing operational costs through material recovery value. This model could influence broader electric vehicle and mobility industry recycling practices.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Cyclic-Lime partnership represents an innovative approach to rare earth recycling that leverages the predictable replacement cycles of commercial electric mobility fleets to create sustainable feedstock streams for critical materials recovery. This collaboration demonstrates how urban mobility companies can transition from being solely consumers of critical materials to active participants in circular supply chains, potentially serving as a model for broader transportation electrification sectors.