Author: Scott Reynolds

German battery recycling startup Tozero has delivered its first batch of recycled lithium carbonate to industrial customer Botz GmbH, marking a milestone in the commercialisation of its battery material recovery technology. The material was produced at Tozero’s demonstration plant in Gendorf Chemical Park in Upper Bavaria. The shipment begins the fulfilment of a long-term supply agreement that will involve regular deliveries to Botz, a specialist in ceramic colours. https://evmagz.com/tozero-opens-industrial-scale-battery-recycling-plant-in-bavaria/ The delivery demonstrates the company’s ability to produce recycled lithium carbonate that meets industrial customer requirements, as it moves beyond small-scale production at its earlier pilot facilities in Munich. Demonstration Plant…

Rebattex and LKQ Atracco have signed a framework agreement to expand the resale of used electric vehicle batteries from recycling and workshop facilities in Sweden and Norway through Rebattex’s digital marketplace. The partnership will give LKQ Atracco access to potential buyers across Europe while providing structured battery information to support transactions. Batteries listed on the platform must meet documentation and traceability requirements. Marketplace for Refurbished EV Batteries Stockholm-based Rebattex operates a business-to-business marketplace for verified used electric vehicle batteries. Its platform is designed to improve transparency in battery evaluation, pricing and trading. LKQ Atracco specialises in automotive parts and vehicle…

Fraunhofer FFB and RWTH Aachen University have developed an evaluation model to compare lithium-ion battery recycling processes based on their economic costs and environmental impact. The tool is designed to help recycling companies, technology providers and battery manufacturers assess different process configurations using a consistent methodology. The development comes as battery recycling in Europe faces significant economic challenges. A study conducted under the EU research project Safeloop found that recycling lithium-ion batteries under the conditions examined currently generates an average loss of approximately €1.90 per kilogram of battery pack. The study identified hazardous goods transportation, battery disassembly and uncertainty surrounding…

Norwegian battery recycler Hydrovolt has signed a cooperation agreement with the Icelandic Recycling Fund (IRF) to collect end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles and industrial applications in Iceland and transport them to Norway for recycling at its facility in Fredrikstad. The agreement extends Hydrovolt’s Nordic operations and establishes a recycling route for batteries reaching the end of their service life in Iceland. The company says the partnership supports its strategy to recover materials from used batteries across the region. Iceland Establishes a Battery Recycling Route The Icelandic Recycling Fund administers extended producer responsibility requirements, under which companies placing products such as…

Rivian has expanded its partnership with Redwood Materials to include recycling battery production scrap from its manufacturing facilities alongside battery packs retired from its electric vehicles. The agreement extends the companies’ existing collaboration on second-life battery storage and material recovery. Under the arrangement, battery packs deemed unsuitable for vehicle use will be returned through Rivian’s US service centre network. Redwood will assess each pack to determine whether it can be reused in stationary energy storage systems or should be sent for recycling. Battery Reuse and Material Recovery The expanded partnership builds on an April 2026 agreement under which Redwood is…

Norwegian battery materials specialist Vianode and Italian battery manufacturer FAAM have demonstrated a process for recycling graphite recovered from battery production waste into new high-performance anode material. The companies now plan to scale the process for industrial applications. As part of a joint development programme, Vianode processed graphite concentrate recovered from anode production waste generated at FAAM into new battery material. According to Vianode, subsequent testing showed that the recycled product delivered electrochemical performance comparable to virgin graphite materials. Recycling Graphite From Battery Production Vianode contributed its manufacturing technology for synthetic graphite to the project, while FAAM provided expertise in…

Electric vehicle battery recycling in Europe is technically advanced but remains economically unviable, with an interim study from the Safeloop research project estimating a current loss of around €1.90 per kilogram of battery pack. Researchers say changes to recycling processes, logistics and business models could significantly improve the economics of battery circularity. The study was conducted by HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management as part of Safeloop, a three-year European Union-funded project focused on safer and more sustainable lithium-ion batteries throughout their lifecycle. Transport and Disassembly Drive Recycling Costs The study identifies several factors contributing to the current economics of…

Altilium has been granted its first UK patent covering its EcoCathode electric vehicle battery recycling process, strengthening the company’s intellectual property portfolio as it advances the commercialization of its battery materials recovery technology. The UK-based clean technology company said the UK Intellectual Property Office awarded Patent No. GB2637908B, titled “Material Recovery Method and Use,” for its hydrometallurgical process that recovers, purifies and regenerates high-value cathode materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. https://evmagz.com/altilium-deploys-ai-platform-to-digitize-uk-ev-battery-recycling/ Patent Supports Domestic Battery Materials Production Altilium’s patented process converts black mass generated from recycled batteries into high-purity, battery-grade cathode materials that can be used in the production of…

Saudi investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal has disclosed a 5% ownership stake in Lucid Group, prompting a sharp rise in the electric vehicle manufacturer’s share price following the filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lucid shares rose by as much as 25% after the disclosure, although the filing identifies the investment as a passive holding and does not indicate any intention to influence the company’s management or strategy. SEC Filing Reveals 5% Ownership Stake According to a Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on July 28, Prince Alwaleed reported ownership of 19,513,000 Class A shares, representing 5.00%…

German battery recycling company Cylib has acquired a mechanical battery processing facility in Bavaria capable of handling up to 10,000 tonnes of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries annually, strengthening its strategy to establish a fully integrated battery recycling business. The acquisition expands Cylib’s operations beyond material recovery by adding large-scale battery dismantling and mechanical processing, creating an end-to-end recycling chain from spent batteries to battery-grade raw materials. https://evmagz.com/vianode-and-cylib-partner-to-advance-recycled-graphite-use-in-battery-anodes/ Facility to Supply Dormagen Recycling Plant The Bavarian facility will mechanically process end-of-life EV batteries into black mass, an intermediate material rich in valuable battery minerals. The black mass will then be transported…

Isuzu Motors has begun testing swappable battery technology for electric refuse trucks in Yokohama, Japan, as part of a pilot project aimed at improving the operational availability of battery-electric municipal vehicles. The trial, which will run until March 2028, is being conducted in partnership with the City of Yokohama and will assess whether automated battery swapping can reduce vehicle downtime compared with conventional charging. https://evmagz.com/isuzu-unveils-electric-d-max-pickup-for-europe-and-uk-with-off-road-focus/ Battery Swapping to Reduce Downtime Under the project, electric refuse trucks equipped with two traction batteries will exchange depleted battery packs for fully charged units at dedicated battery swapping stations. According to the company, the…

UK battery recycling company Altilium has deployed ReGenTrace AI, a cloud-based analytics and traceability platform developed by its subsidiary Materia AI, to support the expansion of its electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling operations. The company said the platform will become the digital operating system for its recycling facilities, helping automate battery analysis, optimize processing and improve traceability across the battery materials supply chain. AI to Optimize Battery Recycling ReGenTrace AI combines machine learning, computer vision and advanced analytics to identify incoming battery chemistries, manufacturers, cell formats, state of health and potential safety risks before recycling begins. The platform also predicts…

AESC has begun mass production of its new 46120 cylindrical battery cells, marking a step forward in the company’s battery manufacturing strategy as it prepares to supply future electric vehicles for BMW Group. The first announced model to adopt the new battery technology is the all-electric BMW iX5, which is expected to enter the market in late 2026 or early 2027. The new battery cell measures 46 millimetres in diameter and 120 millimetres in height. According to AESC, the design increases usable energy per cell by nearly 30% compared with previous cylindrical formats while reducing the number of cells and…

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a battery recycling technique that upgrades used lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cathodes into a higher-performance material, potentially giving end-of-life electric vehicle batteries a second life with greater energy storage capacity. The process converts spent LFP cathodes into lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP), a next-generation battery material capable of storing more energy while maintaining the safety and durability that have made LFP batteries widely used in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. The research was published in the journal Joule. Upcycling Instead of Conventional Recycling Unlike conventional battery recycling methods…

Battery manufacturer CATL has joined leading automotive, technology and battery companies to establish the Global Energy Circular Economy Alliance, an initiative aimed at advancing common standards for battery reuse, recycling and circular design. The alliance was officially launched during London Climate Action Week, bringing together founding members including CATL, BMW, Renault, Volvo, Google and Xiaomi. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation will coordinate the initiative, while CATL is expected to play a central role in helping shape future standards for battery design, recycling and supply chain sustainability. Alliance Targets Battery Circularity Standards The Global Energy Circular Economy Alliance will focus on expanding…

recell.store, an online marketplace for used electric vehicle batteries owned by Altilium, has entered into a partnership with UK battery testing and analytics company ClearWatt to offer battery health assessment services for organizations handling used and end-of-life EV batteries. The companies said the collaboration will focus on providing battery condition data to vehicle salvage yards, dismantlers and other businesses involved in the recovery, resale and recycling of electric vehicle batteries. Pilot Programme Planned The initiative will begin with a pilot programme involving selected industry participants. Under the programme, organizations will use ClearWatt’s EV Flash Test technology to assess battery condition…

General Motors and Redwood Materials have expanded their battery collaboration with a new second-life energy storage project in Michigan that will use retired electric vehicle battery packs to support manufacturing operations. The project will deploy approximately 100 repurposed GM battery packs to create a battery energy storage system with a capacity of 1.5 megawatts and 7.2 megawatt-hours at a General Motors manufacturing facility. According to Redwood Materials, the installation is designed to lower electricity costs while improving energy resilience at the site. Batteries Gain Second Life After Vehicle Use The project highlights the growing role of second-life battery applications as…

Mercedes-Benz Trucks is expanding its battery-electric truck lineup with the introduction of the eActros Lowliner, a new model designed for high-volume freight transport and automotive logistics. The company plans to officially unveil the vehicle at the IAA Transportation exhibition in Hanover in September, with customer orders expected to open in the third quarter of 2026. Production is scheduled to begin at the Wörth am Rhein plant in Germany during the second quarter of 2027. Electric Lowliner Targets Automotive Logistics Lowliner trucks are designed with a fifth-wheel height of just 950 mm, allowing them to haul mega trailers with an internal…

Vianode and cylib have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the use of recycled graphite in battery anode materials, as the companies seek to strengthen circularity and reduce emissions across the European battery value chain. Under the agreement, cylib will supply recycled graphite concentrate recovered from end-of-life batteries, while Vianode will validate the material’s suitability for anode production through pilot-scale testing. The companies said the partnership is intended to support greater European material independence while lowering the carbon footprint associated with battery manufacturing. Focus on Graphite Recovery and Circular Supply Chains Graphite is the largest material component in…

Orbia Fluor & Energy Materials has secured £1.4 million ($1.9 million) in funding from the UK government to develop a graphite recycling pilot facility in Runcorn, as the country seeks to strengthen its domestic electric vehicle battery supply chain and reduce dependence on imported raw materials. The project, which remains in the planning phase, is expected to begin in early 2026, with installation work and initial product output anticipated later that year. According to Orbia, the pilot facility will establish graphite recycling capabilities in the United Kingdom and evaluate the technical and commercial viability of recovering graphite from battery materials.…