Altilium, a UK-based recycling firm, has achieved a breakthrough in the electric vehicle (EV) industry by recovering over 97% of lithium and 99% of graphite from used EV batteries. This success, driven by their advanced EcoCathode technology, positions the company to significantly impact the EV sector’s sustainability efforts.
The firm’s newly launched operations are focusing on Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, a technology seeing a surge in demand across the UK. According to the Advanced Propulsion Centre, LFP batteries are projected to account for 25% of the UK’s EV battery market by 2035. However, their iron and phosphate composition makes LFP batteries more challenging and less lucrative to recycle compared to Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) batteries. Altilium’s EcoCathode process is specifically designed to overcome this hurdle by extracting valuable materials such as lithium and graphite, ensuring that LFP batteries are efficiently recycled, reducing waste and supporting a circular battery economy.
Efficient Recycling Meets Regulatory Demands
The company’s recycling process not only strengthens the economics of battery recycling but also aids automotive OEMs in meeting regulatory targets for sustainability. By processing both NMC and LFP batteries, Altilium is addressing a critical gap in the UK’s battery supply chain, helping to close the loop on the lifecycle of these materials. Their operations span two facilities in Devon—ACT1 and ACT2—where the company recycles both used NMC batteries and production scrap from Gigafactories to create modern high-nickel cathode active materials (CAM).
The ACT2 facility in Plymouth is already making waves with its capacity to process 300kg of black mass waste daily (equivalent to one EV battery). Additionally, Altilium’s upcoming Teesside hub will become one of Europe’s largest EV battery recycling centers, designed to handle over 150,000 EVs annually, with the flexibility to process a range of battery chemistries, including LFP.
A Step Forward for the EV Industry
This advancement comes at a crucial time as the demand for LFP batteries rises sharply, challenging the industry to keep pace with both recycling and sustainability targets. Altilium’s efforts to recover lithium and graphite could be the key to unlocking a more circular and environmentally responsible future for the EV industry, contributing to the UK’s transition to cleaner, more sustainable transport solutions.
