Author: Scott Reynolds

German battery recycling company Cylib has joined a consortium of 25 companies and research institutions working to develop sodium-ion battery technology and related recycling processes under the “SIB:DE Entwicklung” project, the company said. The initiative, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space with 14.5 million euros ($15.8 million), will run from March 2026 through February 2029. The project follows the earlier SIB:DE Forschung initiative launched in 2025, which focused on evaluating the role sodium-ion batteries could play in Europe’s energy and mobility transition. Under the new program, consortium members aim to develop large-format sodium-ion battery cells suitable…

Altilium has filed its 10th UK patent application, covering a proprietary process to produce key battery intermediates—including nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP)—from recycled materials, the company said. The filing marks a further expansion of Altilium’s intellectual property portfolio and follows a technical milestone achieved at its ACT2 pilot facility, where the company has begun commercial production of nickel MHP for customer qualification. The development is intended to demonstrate both the scalability of the process and its ability to meet industry standards. The new process, developed at the ACT2 site, enables the recovery of critical materials from a range of feedstocks,…

Researchers led by Fraunhofer IPA have launched a new project, “Difference,” aimed at improving the recyclability of next-generation battery systems that use Cell-to-Pack (CTP) technology, the institute said. The project focuses on battery designs in which cells are integrated directly into the battery pack without intermediate modules, a configuration increasingly used to reduce weight, lower component counts and improve energy density. While this approach can enhance vehicle range and efficiency, it also introduces significant challenges for disassembly and recycling. The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space under the B@ts battery research programme and…

Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM are developing a new electrochemical process to recover critical raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel from used batteries, as part of the MeGaBat project aimed at improving recycling efficiency and sustainability. The initiative, short for “Methods for the electrochemical recovery of active battery materials,” offers an alternative to conventional hydrometallurgical recycling techniques, which typically rely on energy-intensive processes and chemical inputs. The new approach is designed to reduce both carbon emissions and energy consumption while avoiding the use of acids and alkalis. “At the same time, the electrochemical method is intended to ensure that…

Tozero has inaugurated its first industrial-scale demonstration plant for lithium-ion battery recycling at the Chemiepark Gendorf, marking a key step in scaling up domestic recovery of critical raw materials in Europe. The facility, located in Upper Bavaria near the Austrian border, is designed to process around 500 tonnes of battery waste annually and recover more than 100 tonnes of high-purity lithium carbonate, alongside graphite and nickel-cobalt compounds. “In under four years, Tozero has scaled from lab to industry as the first European company,” the company said in a statement announcing the opening. Founded in 2022, Tozero focuses on processing so-called…

The Future is Neutral (TFIN), backed by Renault Group and Suez, has expanded its digital platform AutoLOOP to include the collection of electric vehicle (EV) traction batteries, as part of efforts to scale recycling of strategic materials. The move extends AutoLOOP’s existing role in collecting materials such as polypropylene, copper, aluminium and platinum group metals from end-of-life vehicles, positioning the platform as a centralised solution for both material and battery recovery across Europe. “Professionalisation and digitalisation of materials and battery collection: that is our purpose. AutoLOOP is a unique platform designed to improve the recovery of end-of-life vehicles, ensuring simplicity,…

Battery recycling startup R3 Robotics has raised €20 million in new funding to expand its automated electric vehicle dismantling technology, as it broadens its focus beyond battery upcycling to full vehicle disassembly. The company, originally founded as Circu Li-ion, said the funding includes €14 million from a Series A round led by HG Ventures and Suma Capital, alongside €6 million in European grants. R3 Robotics has evolved from specialising in lithium-ion battery reuse to developing systems that can automatically dismantle entire electric vehicles, including powertrains, motors and electronics, to recover valuable raw materials. Antoine Welter said the shift addresses inefficiencies…

Toyota has announced plans to build a circular economy factory in Wałbrzych, Poland, aimed at dismantling end-of-life vehicles and recovering components and raw materials for reuse in new production. The facility will occupy approximately 25,000 square metres and is designed to process about 20,000 vehicles per year. The plant will focus on salvaging usable parts and extracting valuable materials, with particular attention to traction batteries and other electrified vehicle components. “Items such as batteries and wheels will be evaluated for their potential to be remanufactured, repurposed or recycled,” Toyota said, adding that the objective is to maximise environmental benefits through…

Berlin-based software company Minespider has launched a digital marketplace called Recircle.market aimed at improving coordination across the battery recycling and reuse supply chain, as Europe prepares for stricter sustainability regulations. The platform originates from the EU-funded Recirculate project and is designed to connect companies involved in battery-electric vehicle battery repair, refurbishment, second-life applications and recycling, along with related service providers. Minespider, which specializes in supply chain traceability software, provides the underlying digital infrastructure for the marketplace. According to the company, the initiative seeks to address longstanding challenges in the sector, including fragmented data, limited transparency on battery condition and complex…

Researchers at RWTH Aachen University are working with academic and industry partners to test delamination-based approaches for battery recycling, seeking to improve material recovery while reducing environmental impact and reliance on primary raw materials. The work is being carried out under the three-year RECLAIM research project, funded by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia. The project focuses on delamination, a direct recycling process that separates active battery materials from current collector foils without chemically decomposing them, a step that can preserve material value and lower energy use. See also: RWTH Aachen Tests Hybrid Bus-Cable Car Prototype in upBUS Mobility Project…

German battery recycling startup Cylib said it has successfully demonstrated its in-house recycling technology in a customer project, recovering lithium carbonate from used lithium-ion batteries that is now being used in new electric vehicle batteries. The Aachen-based company said the lithium carbonate was produced at its pilot plant using its proprietary OLiC (Optimised Lithium and Graphite Recovery) process and has been qualified by a large, unnamed international battery manufacturer. Qualification is a critical step toward commercial use of recycled materials in battery production, although Cylib said it remains unclear whether it will become a regular supplier to the manufacturer. See…

U.S. battery recycling company Redwood Materials has completed the final closing of its Series E financing round, lifting the total raised to $425 million after adding Google as a new investor, the company said. Redwood had previously announced $350 million raised in the round. The final close includes continued participation from existing backers Capricorn and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, alongside new investors including Google. Redwood said the additional capital “reflects confidence in our long-term strategy and execution.” See also: Redwood Materials Raises $350 Million to Power AI Data Centers with Repurposed EV Batteries The entry of Google follows an earlier investment…