Altilium teams up with Connected Energy on battery sustainability.

Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group, and Connected Energy, a second-life battery energy storage system firm, have joined forces to create a strategic partnership focused on extending the lifecycle of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. This collaboration between two innovative UK firms is set to make waves in the rapidly evolving EV battery ecosystem.

Connected Energy specialises in designing and developing energy storage systems using second-life EV batteries, while Altilium focuses on recycling and processing end-of-life EV batteries. Altilium then manufactures scrap to produce low-carbon cathode active materials (CAM) for direct reuse in new batteries.

Under the new agreement, Altilium and Connected Energy will work together to develop sustainable and environmentally-friendly business models for repurposing and recycling EV batteries. The goal is to set responsible repurposing and recycling protocols that can be adopted as industry-wide standards, aligning with the waste hierarchy principles of re-use, re-purpose, and recycle.

Extending the life of EV batteries in stationary systems can prolong their usefulness by up to ten years, offering significant environmental and circular economy benefits. Once these batteries reach the end of their second life, they can then be recycled, with critical minerals recovered for reuse in new battery production, ensuring that valuable resources remain in the UK supply chain.

Altilium has already received its first batch of batteries from Connected Energy, which will be processed at the company’s recycling facilities in Devon. Through its EcoCathode recycling process, Altilium can reclaim over 95% of the battery metals, including lithium, in a form that can be directly reused in new battery manufacturing. This process not only leads to a 60% reduction in carbon emissions but also results in 20% lower costs compared to virgin materials.

Rod Savage, Altilium’s Program Director for End-of-Life Batteries, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “This partnership underscores Altilium’s dedication to responsibly managing end-of-life EV batteries by collaborating with top-tier partners across the value chain to bolster the growth of the entire battery ecosystem.”

Matthew Lumsden, the CEO of Connected Energy, emphasised the importance of working together as an industry to move used EV batteries through the value chain in a manner that minimises environmental impact while maximising financial value. He cited the collaboration as a crucial step towards establishing a true battery circularity model in the coming years.

As the demand for sustainable solutions continues to rise, partnerships like the one between Altilium and Connected Energy will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the EV battery industry. By focusing on extending the lifecycle of batteries, repurposing materials, and promoting responsible recycling, these companies are leading the way towards a greener and more circular economy.