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Altilium and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) have successfully produced the UK’s first electric vehicle (EV) battery cells using recycled cathode active materials (CAM). This milestone, achieved at UKBIC’s advanced facility in Coventry, represents a leap toward a circular economy for EV batteries. By recycling critical metals from end-of-life EV batteries and Gigafactory waste, Altilium reduces reliance on imported raw materials and lowers the environmental impact of battery production, advancing the UK’s sustainability goals.
Key Highlights:
- UK First: These are the UK’s inaugural EV battery cells made from recycled materials, showcasing leadership in sustainable battery tech.
- Regulatory Milestone: The cells meet the EU’s new Battery Regulations, requiring recycled content in EV batteries by 2031.
- High Recovery: Altilium’s EcoCathode™ process retrieves over 95% of critical metals, including lithium, from used batteries.
- Green Impact: This initiative cuts carbon emissions and boosts the UK economy by fostering domestic green industries.
The cells, crafted with Altilium’s EcoCathode™ NMC 811-2036 CAM, are now set for validation with a top automotive manufacturer. This step strengthens compliance with regulations and opens doors for commercial deals. Altilium’s process starts with shredding old batteries into “black mass,” then recovering metals to create high-quality CAM for new batteries.
Dr. Christian Marston, Altilium co-founder and COO, said: “This milestone marks the first time full battery circularity has been achieved in the UK, from recovering critical minerals, including lithium, from end-of-life EV batteries and upcycling them into a high-performance cathode, to manufacturing a new battery for validation with a leading UK automotive OEM.”
Ameir Mahgoub, UKBIC’s Head of Product Engineering, added: “We’re delighted to have been part of the team creating the UK’s first battery cells made using CAM containing recycled material. This pioneering project could be just the start of a journey that sees the UK becoming less reliant on imported materials and create a new market in recycled EV batteries.”
Looking ahead, Altilium’s ACT4 plant in Teesside will scale up production to 30,000 tonnes of CAM annually, meeting nearly 20% of UK demand by 2030. This expansion promises a robust domestic supply chain, fewer mined resources, and a cleaner path to net zero. Independent studies also show Altilium’s recycled materials rival virgin ones in performance while slashing climate impact by up to 74%, per Minviro’s analysis.
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