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Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in sustainable battery production. The company announced that it successfully manufactured electric vehicle (EV) battery cells using recycled materials at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC). These cells perform just as well as those made with newly mined metals, offering a promising solution to reduce environmental impact and support the transition to a greener automotive industry.
Key Highlights
- Recycled cells match performance of conventional cells, with less than 1% variation in key metrics.
- The manufacturing process for recycled cells is nearly identical to standard methods, showing no issues.
- This breakthrough promotes sustainability by cutting reliance on mined lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
- Altilium’s cells are the first in the UK to comply with upcoming EU recycled material regulations.
The cells were crafted at UKBIC’s facility in Coventry using Altilium’s EcoCathode™ material, sourced from recycled EV batteries. Electrochemical tests revealed that these cells deliver comparable energy density and cycle life to traditional cells, proving recycled materials can replace mined metals without sacrificing quality. The EcoCathode™ process recovers over 95% of critical metals from old batteries, making it a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
This innovation aligns with upcoming EU regulations, effective from 2031, mandating recycled content in new EV batteries. Dr. Christian Marston, Altilium’s co-founder and COO, stated, “This is a pivotal moment for battery circularity in the UK. We’ve shown recycled materials can be used at scale with no compromise on quality.” Richard LeCain, UKBIC’s Chief Technology Officer, added, “This project could reduce the UK’s dependence on imported materials and boost the recycled battery market.”
Altilium’s work paves the way for a domestic, low-carbon battery supply chain, supporting both environmental goals and industry needs. The cells are now undergoing validation with a leading automotive manufacturer.
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