UK-based specialists Altilium and Connected Energy are joining forces to develop sustainable business models for the reuse and recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The collaboration aims to establish protocols that could become industry standards.
Altilium has received its first batch of batteries from Connected Energy, which will be processed at its recycling facilities in Devon. The company claims that its ‘EcoCathode’ recycling process can recover over 95% of battery metals, reducing carbon emissions by 60% and costs by 20% compared to using virgin materials.
The two companies aim to extend their collaboration to set responsible repurposing and recycling protocols, adhering to the waste hierarchy principles of re-use, repurpose, and recycle. “We want to pave the way for others by establishing these protocols,” the companies stated.
Repurposing EV batteries can extend their service life by up to ten years. Once these batteries reach the end of their second life, they can be recycled. Connected Energy specializes in designing and developing energy storage systems using second-life EV batteries, having installed such systems at two Volvo Truck & Bus dealer sites in the UK. Altilium focuses on battery recycling and the production of cathode active materials (CAM).
“Over the next five years, we will see a rapid increase in the availability of used EV batteries,” said Matthew Lumsden, CEO of Connected Energy. “As an industry, it is critical that we work together to ensure that we move batteries through the value chain in a way that minimizes their environmental impact whilst maximizing their financial value. This collaboration is an important step in creating a model for true battery circularity.”
Rod Savage, Program Director for End-of-Life Batteries at Altilium, added, “Weāre excited to be working with Connected Energy to advance our shared vision of a circular economy for EV batteries. This collaboration is further demonstration of Altiliumās commitment to ensuring the responsible management of end-of-life EV batteries, working with best-in-class partners across the value chain to support the growth of the entire battery ecosystem.”
Recently, Altilium signed a deal with Enva to collect and recycle EV batteries in the UK. These batteries will be processed at Altiliumās refinery in Teesside, which can handle up to 150,000 batteries per year.
This partnership between Altilium and Connected Energy represents a significant step towards creating a sustainable, circular economy for EV batteries, aligning with broader industry efforts to reduce environmental impact and enhance the financial viability of battery recycling.