B-Cycle Dead Batteries

With R&J Batteries

All R&J Batteries branches in Australia are now accredited B-cycle drop off points. B-cycle is Australia’s official battery recycling Scheme, committed to creating a responsible battery lifecycle from purchase to disposal, by giving dead batteries a new life. This is a government-supported scheme run by the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC) and is authorised by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). According to B-cycle, 90 percent of Australia’s used batteries end up in landfill, leaking toxic materials into the environment with the battery contents ending up entering our soils and waterways – affecting humans, animals and plants. The Scheme aims to reuse the valuable materials found in these batteries to reduce mining activities in Australia and conserve nature and its resources. This not only creates financial opportunities for recyclers but also assists in conserving the nation’s energy resources for future generations. “For many years, R&J Batteries has been a proactive recycler of lead batteries,” R&J Batteries Chief Executive Officer, Stuart Hamilton, said. “We are also members of the Australian Battery Recycling Initiative (ABIA) and Battery Stewardship Council. “We take our environmental responsibilities very seriously and by extending our recycling capabilities to include all other battery types, we are offering our customers a complete end of life battery recycling service.” Small batteries – regardless of battery type or chemistry – weighing less than 5kgs can be dropped off free of charge for recycling at any R&J Batteries branch across the country. Recycling of batteries larger than 5kgs are restricted to lead and lithium only, and a disposal charge will apply to these larger lithium products, explains R&J Batteries, which states that B-cycle makes battery recycling simple for both households and businesses. Batteries disposed in the rubbish bin can be a serious fire hazard if they are damaged or crushed and they also end up in landfill affecting our ecosystems. R&J Batteries encourages you to follow these simple three steps to give used batteries a new lease of life: 1. Tape the terminals of the batteries to prevent risk of fire: when battery terminals are touched, they can spark and lead to a fire hazard. Use non-conductive tape such as duct tape, clear sticky tape or electrical tape to cover the terminals. It is also worth noting that different battery types have terminals in different locations. For instance, commonly used batteries such as AA, AAA and AAAA have terminals at both ends of the battery.

On the other hand, nine-volt batteries have terminals on the same side. 2. Put them in a glass container and keep out of reach from children: store dead batteries in a glass container and clearly label it. When choosing a container, glass containers that are not airtight are best as they do not allow pressure to build up. Refrain from using a metal container or one with other metal objects inside as they may spark and cause a fire hazard. Keep batteries in a cool and dry place and away from heat sources. 3. B-cycle them at your nearest Drop-off point: take your safely stored batteries to any

R&J Batteries branch in Australia which are now B-cycle drop-off points. For more information and the details of your nearest branch, visit www.rjbatt.com.au or call 1300 769 282.

ZF AND NIO SIGN STRATEGIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT

The two sides will work together in the development of steer-by-wire products and other fields

Global technology company ZF signed a strategic cooperation agreement with NIO on October 11, in Munich, Germany. Dr Holger Klein, Member of the Board of Management (BOM), ZF Group; William Li, Founder, Chairman and CEO of NIO; and senior management on both sides attended the signing ceremony, where a wide range of topics were discussed. Kevin Pan, Associate Vice President, Supply Chain Development, NIO, and Dr Peter Holdmann, Executive Vice President, Head of Division Car Chassis Technology, signed the agreement. Both companies have also agreed to establish an instant information-sharing mechanism to deepen communication, plus conduct regular joint technical exchanges to engage in industry-leading processes and quality standards. Meanwhile, ZF and NIO plan to extend their collaboration to brand promotion, product marketing, technology and quality enhancements, as well as customer service. “ZF’s new steer-by-wire system is a marketleading, cutting-edge technology,” Member of the ZF Group Board of Management, Dr Holger Klein, said. “We are excited to be working closely with NIO, an outstanding representative of the Chinese automotive industry that is actively engaged in technology and business model innovation, and a pioneer in the globalisation of the Chinese automotive industry. “We will continue to expand our cooperation with leading automotive customers against the backdrop of the connectivity, electrification and autonomous megatrends, and give full play to ZF’s technology strengths to play an increasingly important role in the open automotive ecosystem.” “As vehicles become increasingly electric, autonomous, and software defined, ZF has been establishing a leading position in the industry with its comprehensive by-wire technology offerings, and has been awarded significant contracts by multiple customers with steer-bywire launches scheduled in all major regions,” ZF Group Executive Vice President for Active Safety Systems, Christophe Marnat, said. The signing of this agreement marks the first time that ZF Group has cooperated with a customer involved in the steer-by-wire business in the Asia Pacific region, with the companies to jointly promote the evolution and development of technology across various fields, such as autonomous driving and electrification. For more information, visit www.zf.com