Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Princeton NuEnergy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance discussions on collaboration around advanced lithium-ion battery recycling technologies. The agreement focuses on technical validation and potential future deployment of recycling pathways intended to support a more circular battery materials supply chain in the US.
Since 2022, the two companies have conducted joint validation work on Princeton NuEnergy’s plasma-based direct recycling and upcycling processes for lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap and end-of-life materials.
As part of this work, rejuvenated NMC cathode active material has been produced with electrochemical performance reported to be comparable to virgin material, indicating the potential to recover and reuse cathode materials without full re-refining.
The MOU establishes a framework for continued collaborative testing and evaluation, with the possibility of scaling toward commercial applications if technical and economic criteria are met.
From an EV engineering and supply-chain perspective, the work addresses material recovery efficiency, cathode performance retention, and domestic availability of battery-grade materials, all of which are increasingly relevant as EV production volumes increase.
The collaboration aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce reliance on primary raw material extraction by incorporating closed-loop recycling approaches into lithium-ion battery manufacturing and end-of-life processing.
Filed Under: Technology News