The debate surrounding electric vehicle battery recycling highlights concerns about sustainability and environmental impact. While battery recycling isn’t overly complex, methods vary in effectiveness, particularly between NMC and LFP batteries. Altilium has introduced a revolutionary technique for recovering materials from LFP batteries, making their recycling economically viable. Their new facility in Teesside aims to process waste from over 150,000 electric vehicles annually, promoting innovation and addressing challenges in the growing electric vehicle market.
The Growing Debate Around Electric Car Battery Recycling
While many drivers remain hesitant to transition to electric vehicles due to their cost, a segment of the population actively opposes this shift, often citing battery recycling as a major concern. This argument raises questions about the sustainability of electric car technology and its environmental impact.
Innovative Battery Recycling Techniques
Contrary to popular belief, battery recycling is neither rare nor insurmountably complex. In reality, there are two primary outcomes for used batteries. If a vehicle ends up in a scrapyard after an accident and the battery is still functional, it can be repurposed in another car. Conversely, if the battery is too old or damaged, it enters the recycling process. Manufacturers are well-equipped to manage both scenarios.
When it comes to recycling electric car batteries, various methods exist, each with its own set of pros and cons. Notably, recycling is more commonly applied to NMC (nickel-manganese-cobalt) batteries, as these materials possess higher market value. In contrast, LFP (lithium-iron-phosphate) technology is becoming increasingly prevalent but is less appealing financially, leading to reduced recycling efforts for this type.
However, the landscape is shifting, particularly with the innovative strides made by the British company Altilium. They recently unveiled a groundbreaking technique to recover materials from used LFP battery packs. Christian Marston, Altilium’s operations director, stated, “Our technology allows us to efficiently extract lithium and graphite, making the recycling of LFP batteries commercially viable for the industry.”
While Altilium has kept specific details about their process under wraps to maintain a competitive edge, their EcoCathode method reportedly recovers over 97% of lithium and 99% of graphite from batteries economically, paving the way for more sustainable recycling practices.
This large-scale recovery process not only reduces costs but also enhances the financial attractiveness of recycling for automotive manufacturers. As LFP battery technology continues to expand, Altilium predicts that its market share in electric vehicles will rise to 18% in the UK by 2027, reaching 25% by 2035.
With the ongoing production of new batteries on the rise—especially in France—companies are encouraged to invest in recycling efforts. However, they face challenges from new battery producers driving prices down and the complexities introduced by cell-to-pack technology, which affects both repairability and recycling.
Altilium’s upcoming facility in Teesside is set to become one of the largest electric vehicle battery recycling plants in Europe. This facility is designed to process waste from over 150,000 electric vehicles annually and will accommodate a variety of battery chemistries, including LFP. Such advancements are likely to inspire further innovations across the industry.