UK-based tech group Altilium Metals has produced cathode active materials (CAMs) recovered from end-of-life EV battery scrap. The first samples have been delivered to Imperial College London, where the materials will be analyzed under a joint research program partly funded by the UK government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) through its Automotive Transformation Fund.

Under the program, Altilium Metals will collaborate with Imperial to compare the electrochemical performance of the recycled cathode materials with commercially manufactured cathodes made from mined raw materials. The CAMs will be analyzed in coin cells and single-layer pouch cells.

Altilium’s goal is to demonstrate that batteries produced with recycled materials can match the performance of those produced using virgin raw materials. The company recently completed a feasibility study for the development of an EV battery recycling facility in the UK with the capacity to process scrap from over 150,000 EVs per year, producing 30,000 metric tons of CAM. Over 155,000 metric tons of CAM will be needed annually by 2030 to support UK EV production, according to the APC. 

“CAM is key to electric vehicle battery performance and the production of lithium-ion cells starts with high-quality materials,” said Dr. Christian Marston, CTO of Altilium Metals. “At our EV Battery Recycling Technology Center, we are re-engineering and upcycling old battery scrap to produce new cathode active materials, giving full battery circularity to our customers and reducing the UK’s dependency on overseas supply chains.”

Source: Altilium Metals