Nissan is working with clean-energy specialist Altilium on a closed-loop system for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
The pair are looking at how they can process waste from used cells into cathode active materials for electric vehicles.
The work is part of a major project announced by the Advanced Propulsion Centre to work towards eliminating exhaust emissions.
Partners in the initiative, which aims to reduce environmental impact and maximise resource efficiency, include battery specialists AESC and Connected Energy.
Altilium co-founder Christian Marston said the collaboration “marks a significant milestone in our mission to create a sustainable ecosystem for EV batteries”.
“Together, we are leveraging our strengths and resources to revolutionise how we manage and repurpose EV batteries, ensuring the UK has a domestic and sustainable source of battery materials for low carbon transportation,” he added.
Altilium’s EcoCathod hydrometallurgical process can recover more than 95 per cent of cathode metals, including lithium, from the used energy stores. These are re-engineered and upcycled to high nickel materials that can be integrated into new batteries.
The firm’s first commercial plant is currently under construction in Plymouth while it also plans to build one of the largest EV-battery recycling facilities in Europe on Teesside.
