UK-based clean technology company Altilium has unveiled a revolutionary project that will focus on producing and testing EV battery cells made from “materials recovered from end-of-life EV batteries.” For this initiative, Altilium will be working in tandem with Jaguar Land Rover (JLR).
The project revolves around Altilium’s EcoCathod process, which recovers essential materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel from used EV batteries.
This innovative method not only reduces the necessity for new mining operations but also significantly cuts down carbon emissions related to battery production.
“By recovering critical materials including lithium, cobalt and nickel, Altilium’s process reduces the need for newly mined materials, resulting in a 60% reduction in carbon emissions,” mentioned the press release.
Driving towards a circular economy
Dr. Christian Marston, Altilium’s Chief Operating Officer, expressed pride in spearheading this initiative with JLR.
“We are proud to lead this pioneering project with JLR that brings us one step closer to a circular economy for battery materials in the UK,” Marston remarked.
“By demonstrating that EV battery cells made from recovered materials can meet the rigorous standards of the automotive industry, we’re reducing the environmental impact of battery production.”
The announcement seems to have come at an opportune moment. A recent study by the Faraday Institution forecasts that the demand for UK EV battery manufacturing capacity will reach almost 110 GWh annually by the year 2030.
To ensure that this demand is met without making a significant impact on the environment, using recyclable materials is crucial. For context, lithium , cobalt, and nickel are used in significant amounts as raw materials in the EV industry.
“The development of a sustainable domestic supply chain for these materials will therefore be critical for the electrification of transport in the UK,” emphasized the press release.
Altilium’s ambitious recycling plans
Altilium is making strides in the EV battery recycling space, with its first mini-commercial plant currently under construction in Plymouth. In addition, their ambitious plans include a Teesside plant set to become one of Europe’s largest EV battery recycling facilities.
“The plant will have the capacity to process scrap from over 150,000 EVs per year, producing 30,000 MT of CAM, enough to meet around 20% of the UK’s expected needs by 2030,” asserted the firm.
Meanwhile, JLR will play a crucial role by ensuring that the battery cells produced from recycled materials meet the high standards required for automotive use. They will conduct thorough testing at their battery testing facilities.
“In a first for the UK, the project will demonstrate battery cells produced with recovered cathode active materials (CAM) which will be validated for use in vehicles with a leading automotive OEM,” said Altilium in its press release.
The announcement by Altilium also reflects the broader market trend. At present, many major companies are working toward recycling end-of-life lithium-ion batteries.
In a recent development, BMW of North America has partnered with Redwood Materials to recover critical materials, such as cobalt, copper, nickel, and lithium, from the automaker’s electric vehicles.
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