Altilium and Enva enter MOU to partner on battery recycling

The partnership unites Enva’s nationwide collection infrastructure and relationships with car dealerships with Altilium’s expertise in the recycling of old EV batteries and recovery of materials, including lithium.

Under the MOU, the companies will explore initiatives that include the safe handling and collection of EV batteries from across the UK for recycling using Altilium’s EcoCathode process. The advanced hydrometallurgical recycling process recovers over 95 per cent of the battery metals in a format that can be directly reused in the production of new batteries.

Altilium, whose UK office is in Plymouth, added that the process results in a 60 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and 20 per cent lower costs compared to virgin materials.

“Altilium’s focus is on developing green technologies and innovative solutions across the whole battery supply chain, from collection of old EV batteries to production of black mass and refining to cathode active materials [CAM],” said Rod Savage, Altilium’s programme director for end-of-life batteries. “As we scale up the business, it makes complete sense to partner with best-in-class companies like Enva, who already have an extensive network and relationships in place.”

Savage continued: “We add value by helping Enva evolve their existing business, while for Altilium this is all about securing feedstock for our planned mega-scale recycling facility in Teesside and being able to offer customers full battery circularity.”

He added that across the battery value chain, Altilium is increasingly working with leading UK and international groups, such as Enva and Synetiq for feedstock, ABB and Hatch as technical partners, and end users including Talga.

“We’re part of an emerging EV battery ecosystem in the UK and it's only through collaboration and continuous technical innovation that we’re going to build out the infrastructure needed to manage the growing volume of end-of-life batteries expected over the next decade and achieve a circular economy for critical battery materials.”