Altilium announced that the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) has successfully manufactured the UK’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery cells using recycled active cathode materials (CAM), marking a significant step toward battery circularity in the country.
The pouch cells were produced at UKBIC’s advanced facility in Coventry using Altilium’s EcoCathode NMC 811-2036 CAM, sourced from its recycling operations in Devon. The initiative aims to reduce the UK’s dependence on imported raw materials and lower the carbon footprint of battery manufacturing, contributing to a more sustainable EV sector.
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The UKBIC, a national research facility launched in 2021, spans 18,500 square meters and represents a £130 million investment. It provides resources for companies developing battery technology across multiple industries, including electric mobility, aerospace, and energy storage.
Altilium’s recycled cathode materials originated from its ACT1 pilot plant in Devon, with further processing at its ACT2 mini-commercialization facility in Plymouth, commissioned in November. The company plans to scale operations with its ACT4 plant in Teesside, which is expected to produce 30,000 tonnes of CAM annually—enough to meet nearly 20% of the UK’s projected demand by 2030.
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A study by Imperial College London found that Altilium’s recycled materials match or surpass the performance of newly mined materials, offering extended battery life, faster charging, and reduced costs. Meanwhile, a life cycle analysis by Minviro indicated that cathode materials derived from Altilium’s process could cut climate impact by up to 74% compared to conventional supply chains reliant on primary mined materials from China.
“This milestone marks the first time full battery circularity has been achieved in the UK, from recovering critical minerals from end-of-life EV batteries to upcycling them into high-performance cathodes and manufacturing new battery cells for validation with a leading UK automotive OEM,” said Dr. Christian Marston, Altilium’s co-founder and COO.
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Ameir Mahgoub, Head of Product Engineering at UKBIC, added: “We’re delighted to have been part of the team creating the UK’s first battery cells made using CAM containing recycled material. This pioneering project could be the first step toward reducing reliance on imports and establishing a domestic market for recycled EV batteries.”
In January, Altilium secured a $5 million investment from Japan’s Marubeni Group as part of its Series B financing round. Marubeni, a key player in the battery materials sector since 1985, has also been involved in battery recycling initiatives globally.