Altilium and Enva partner on battery recycling

Two United Kingdom-based companies, Altilium, a clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, and Enva, a recycling and resource recovery specialist, have partnered to collect and recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries in the U.K. 

The partnership combines Enva’s nationwide collection infrastructure and connections with car dealerships with Altilium’s knowledge in the recycling of old EV batteries and recovery of critical materials, including lithium. The companies say this marks a significant step toward the creation of a circular economy for battery minerals in the U.K. 

Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU), Enva and Altilium plan to explore several key initiatives, such as safe handling and collection of EV batteries from across the U.K., using Altilium’s EcoCathode process. Using advanced hydrometallurgical recycling processes, Altilium says it can recover more than 95 percent of battery metals in a format that can be directly reused in producing new batteries. 

According to the company, the arrangement with Enva eliminates the need to establish its own collection infrastructure and direct relationships with multiple waste producers and automotive OEMs. 

The partnership will provide infeed materials for Altilium’s Teesside refinery, a facility in the U.K. refining lithium-ion scrap into battery-ready cathode active material (CAM) for direct reuse in new battery production. The company says the plant will have the capacity to recycle waste batteries from 150,000 EVs per year, producing 30,000 metric tons of CAM, enough to meet 20 percent of expected U.K. demand by 2030. 

“We are excited to partner with Altilium to develop a comprehensive and sustainable supply chain for EV battery recycling in the U.K.,” says Michael Sneath, managing director of Enva’s lubricants and batteries division. “Expert handling and storage of this potentially hazardous material is paramount. This collaboration will solve an emerging problem for our customers, enhancing the U.K.’s recycling capabilities and contributing to the circular economy by transforming used batteries into valuable raw materials for new batteries.” 

“By leveraging Enva’s collection network and our processing expertise, we aim to set a new standard in battery recycling, ensuring maximum recovery of materials and supporting the growth of the EV market in an environmentally responsible way,” says Rod Savage, Altilium program director for end-of-life batteries.  

It is said that over the next decade, more than 100 million EV batteries are expected to reach end of life globally. According to Altilium and Enva, they are creating a domestic ecosystem for recycling these batteries by building a sustainable solution for battery disposal, ensuring that valuable resources remain in the U.K. supply chain and contribute to the broader goals of reducing carbon emissions. 

Altilium says it's the only company in the U.K. recycling and upcycling old EV batteries to produce high-nickel CAM for direct reuse in new EV batteries. The company’s proprietary EcoCathode process results in a 60 percent reduction in carbon emissions and 20 percent lower costs compared with virgin materials.