Volvo’s North American subsidiary, Nova Bus, has entered into a collaboration with Canadian battery recycler Lithion to manage the recycling of batteries from its buses across Canada once they reach the end of their service life. The partnership aims to promote sustainability within the hybrid and electric bus industry, focusing on reducing the need for virgin materials and supporting the transition to a circular economy.
Under the agreement, used batteries from Nova Bus vehicles will be collected, transported, and recycled at Lithion’s facility in Saint-Bruno, Quebec. The batteries, which will no longer be capable of storing electricity, will undergo recycling processes to recover up to 98% of the critical minerals they contain. These materials can then be repurposed for various uses, including energy storage systems and residential electrification, extending the lifecycle of the materials even after their initial application in electric buses.
“I am very excited about this partnership because it represents the full potential of companies with complementary expertise dedicating their efforts to improving the environmental footprint of their products. Recycling is a crucial step in the value chain of batteries,” said Paul Le Houillier, President of Nova Bus.
Lithion’s recycling technology is designed to help close the loop in the circular economy by extracting valuable materials from used batteries, reducing the reliance on mining for new materials. The multi-year collaboration aligns with Nova Bus’ commitment to sustainability in the transportation sector and supports its goal of enhancing the environmental responsibility of public transit.
Benoit Couture, President and CEO of Lithion, emphasized the importance of recycling in achieving truly sustainable transportation. “The prospect of making public transit even more environmentally responsible is truly exciting. Through strategic partnerships like Nova Bus, we can envision achieving full circularity of battery materials right here in Quebec.”
Lithion’s recycling efforts are part of a broader strategy to secure a steady supply of used batteries, with ongoing partnerships with several vehicle manufacturers, including a recent collaboration with Hyundai. Nova Bus is expected to have a consistent supply of used batteries, thanks to its agreements with major Canadian public transport operators, such as Durham Region Transit, BC Transit, OC Transpo, and the city of Regina.
