British battery firm Altilium and UK vehicle salvage, dismantling, and recycling specialist Synetiq have announced a new commercial collaboration to recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This partnership aims to recycle EV batteries from cars that have reached the end of their life cycle, recovering lithium and nickel “for direct reuse in the production of new batteries.”
Synetiq, which processes thousands of cars each year and inventories them in its technology center in Devon, plans to launch an end-of-life program in the UK. Currently, the UK exports battery waste to Europe and Asia for processing. The companies aim to address the need to recycle over 100 million EV batteries expected over the next decade.
Tom Rumboll, CEO of Synetiq, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability and circularity, stating, “Through our collaboration with Altilium and LV=, we aim to establish complete circularity in the UK, particularly in a pivotal sector for the energy transition.”
Martin Milliner, General Insurance Claims Director at LV=Insurance, emphasized the importance of responsible disposal of EV batteries, noting that LV= were the first insurer to launch a car insurance product developed solely for electric cars.
In addition to the collaboration with Synetiq, Altilium announced a partnership with Vmoto to develop a commercial solution for the collection and recycling of lithium-ion batteries from electric scooters and motorbikes across the UK and Europe. This partnership aims to encompass zero-carbon battery collection, black mass recycling, and chemical refining direct to battery-ready cathode active material.
Vmoto, a leading global manufacturer of electric scooters and motorcycles, owns subsidiaries such as Super Soco, the UK’s best-selling electric motorcycle brand, and another in France. The company collaborated with Ducati to develop an electric scooter in 2019.
Altilium has been actively expanding its presence in the EV battery recycling sector, securing a £700,000 loan from the UK government in November and announcing a recycling collaboration with ABB in October.
