Altilium and Enva Partner to Enhance EV Battery Recycling in the UK

Altilium and Enva, a prominent recycling and resource recovery specialist, have announced a strategic partnership for the collection and recycling of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the UK. This collaboration aims to address the increasing number of EVs and battery-powered devices, creating a circular economy for battery minerals in the UK.

The partnership leverages Enva’s nationwide collection infrastructure and relationships with car dealerships, along with Altilium’s expertise in EV battery recycling and recovery of critical materials like lithium. Altilium’s EcoCathode™ process enables the recovery of over 95% of battery metals for reuse in new battery production.

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), Enva and Altilium will work together to explore initiatives such as safe EV battery handling and collection across the UK for recycling using Altilium’s EcoCathode™ process. This partnership provides commercial benefits to Altilium by eliminating the need for its own collection infrastructure and direct relationships with waste producers and automotive OEMs.

The collaboration will also supply feed for Altilium’s Teesside refinery (ACT 4), the UK’s planned facility for refining lithium-ion waste to battery-ready Cathode Active Materials (CAM) for direct reuse in new batteries. The plant aims to recycle batteries from 150,000 EVs annually, producing 30,000 MT of CAM, meeting 20% of the expected UK demand by 2030.

Michael Sneath, Managing Director of Enva’s Lubricants and Batteries Division, expressed excitement about the partnership: “We are excited to partner with Altilium to develop a comprehensive and sustainable supply chain for EV battery recycling in the UK.”

Rod Savage, Altilium’s Program Director for End-of-Life Batteries, added: “By leveraging Enva’s collection network and our processing expertise, we aim to set a new standard in battery recycling, ensuring maximum recovery of materials and supporting the growth of the EV market in an environmentally responsible way.”

With over 100 million EV batteries expected to reach end-of-life globally in the next decade, Altilium and Enva are establishing a domestic ecosystem for recycling, ensuring valuable resources stay in the UK supply chain and contributing to carbon emission reduction goals.

Altilium stands out as the only company in the UK recycling and upcycling old EV batteries to produce high-nickel CAM for direct reuse in new EV batteries. The company’s EcoCathode™ process reduces carbon emissions by 60% and costs by 20% compared to virgin materials, facilitating the production of more affordable and environmentally friendly EVs.