Altilium, a clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, is collaborating on a project led by Nissan. The two companies will work together to improve the sustainability of EV batteries manufactured in the UK by using advanced recycling technologies to lower the carbon footprint of new batteries and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
The innovative work is part of a £30m collaborative project announced by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), which has been awarded grant funding of £15m.
This program will strengthen the technical expertise and R&D capability of the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, focusing on the development and advancement of EV battery reuse, recycling, and energy-balancing technology. The consortium also includes Connected Energy, a provider of second-life battery energy storage solutions.
Building on Altilium’s pioneering development of proprietary green processing technologies, the two companies will work together to maximize the potential for raw material recycling and develop a “closed-loop” model for battery materials, reducing the need for mining and saving natural resources. This includes processing the waste from spent Nissan leaf batteries and production scrap and upcycling these materials to produce high nickel chemistry cathode active materials (CAM) for testing in the next generation of EV batteries.
The joint endeavour aims to establish a comprehensive, circular approach to managing EV batteries while ensuring minimal environmental impact and maximizing resource efficiency.
Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode hydrometallurgical process can recover over 95% of the cathode metals, including lithium, from end-of-life EV batteries. These recovered materials aren’t just recycled: they’re re-engineered and up-cycled to high nickel CAM, ensuring their seamless integration into new batteries. By up-cycling these critical materials, the company aims to reduce the carbon footprint in CAM by 50% and the cost by 20%, compared to virgin mined materials.
The support from the APC underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in driving the development of zero-emission technologies and building a sustainable EV supply chain. This financial backing will enable Altilium to accelerate the scale-up of its cutting-edge recycling facilities, including the planned construction of the UK’s first industrial scale recycling planet in Teesside.
“The collaboration with Nissan and Connected Energy marks a significant milestone in our mission to create a sustainable ecosystem for EV batteries,” said Christian Marston, co-founder and COO of Altlium. “Together, we are leveraging our strengths and resources to revolutionize how we manage and repurpose EV batteries, ensuring the UK has a domestic and sustainable source of battery materials for low carbon transportation.”
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News