Ascend Elements, Honda partner for procurement of recycled lithium-ion battery materials

Westborough, Massachusetts-based battery recycler Ascend Elements has announced a basic agreement with Honda Motor Co., Ltd., headquartered in Toyko with a North American base in Torrance, California, to collaborate on stable procurement of recycled lithium-ion battery (LIB) materials for Honda electric vehicles (EVs) in North America. Ascend says the use of recycled battery materials in new EV batteries can dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of EVs.

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“Honda is aiming for zero environmental impact by 2050 and sourcing recycled battery materials for its electric vehicles is a huge part of that,” says Ascend CEO Mike O’Kronley. “We’re honored to continue our strategic partnership with Honda in North America.”

Ascend says it has recycled used LIBs for American Honda Motor Co. since 2021, and that the new agreement is an important step toward creating a closed-loop supply chain for recycled battery materials—including lithium, nickel and cobalt—leveraging the efficiencies and environmental benefits of the company’s patented Hydro-to-Cathode direct precursor synthesis process.

The company’s commercial products include recycled lithium, nickel and cobalt, as well as sustainable cathode precursor (pCAM) and cathode active materials (CAM)—all made from used LIBs and gigafactory manufacturing scrap.