Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, is proud to announce that it has secured backing from the UK government to begin rapid prototyping of lithium-ion EV battery cells using recycled cathode active materials (CAM).
The innovative project, the first of its kind in the UK, has received grant funding of £639,797 (US$798,114) from Innovate UK’s Faraday Battery Challenge. Production of the cells will take place at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC), the UK’s national battery manufacturing scale-up facility, using CAM produced at Altilium’s UK pilot facility.
Altilium is the only company in the UK recycling and upcycling old EV batteries to produce high nickel CAM for direct reuse in new EV batteries. Using its proprietary EcoCathode™ process, Altilium recycles over 95% of the cathode metals, including lithium, from old EV batteries. The process results in a 60% reduction in carbon emissions and 20% lower costs compared to virgin materials.
This new initiative marks a significant step towards the development of a circular economy for the battery industry and the decarbonisation of battery cells. As well as addressing concerns over battery waste disposal, it will enable automotive OEMs to meet sustainability goals and minimum recycled content regulations.
The project will involve a full pouch cell run at the UKBIC facility, as well as analysis of the quality and performance of the cells, and benchmarking against UKBIC’s baselines cell.
By demonstrating at-scale manufacturing of battery cells using recycled CAM, the project will advance commercialisation of Altilium’s technology, paving the way for supply deals with OEMs and battery manufacturers and de-risking investment in further scale-up, including construction of the UK’s largest planned commercial plant for EV battery recycling and CAM production.
Successful completion of the project will also have wider benefits for the UK economy and the environment. By developing a domestic, sustainable source of battery raw materials, Altilium is helping to meet the growing demands of new green industries, such as EV manufacturing, while reducing the UK’s reliance on imported materials and supporting the transition to net zero.
Alitlium COO Dr Christian Marston commented: “We are excited to lead the way in sustainable battery production through this collaboration with UKBIC. This new project will advance commercialisation of Altilium’s technology, demonstrating our EcoCathode™ recycling process at our new ACT 2 facility at a suitable scale to OEMs, battery manufacturers and investors, and de-risking investment in further scale-up.”
For more news like this, click here
