Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group dedicated to facilitating the shift to net-zero emissions, has unveiled details of a groundbreaking collaboration with Nissan. The joint project aims to enhance the sustainability of electric vehicle (EV) batteries manufactured in the UK by employing advanced recycling technologies. Altilium and Nissan will work together to reduce the carbon footprint of new batteries and decrease dependence on imported raw materials.c
This initiative is part of a £30 million collaborative project announced by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), securing £15 million in grant funding. The program will bolster the technical expertise and research and development capabilities of the Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. The primary focus will be on the advancement of EV battery reuse, recycling, and energy balancing technology.
The consortium includes long-standing Nissan partner, battery producer AESC, and Connected Energy, a leading provider of second-life battery energy storage solutions in the UK. Leveraging Altilium’s proprietary green processing technologies, the collaboration aims to maximize raw material recycling, establishing a “closed-loop” model for battery materials. This approach will reduce the need for mining and conserve natural resources, encompassing the processing of waste from spent Nissan Leaf batteries and production scrap.
Dr. Christian Marston, Altlium’s co-founder and COO, stated, “The collaboration with Nissan, AESC, and Connected Energy marks a significant milestone in our mission to create a sustainable ecosystem for EV batteries.” Together, the companies plan to revolutionize how EV batteries are managed and repurposed, ensuring the UK has a domestic and sustainable source of battery materials for low carbon transportation.
The joint endeavor aims to establish a comprehensive, circular approach to managing EV batteries, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing resource efficiency. Altlium’s EcoCathode hydrometallurgical process can recover over 95 percent of cathode metals, including lithium, from end-of-life EV batteries. These materials are not only recycled but re-engineered and upcycled to high nickel cathode active materials (CAM) for testing in the next generation of EV batteries.
Supported by the APC, this collaboration emphasizes the significance of public-private partnerships in advancing zero-emission technologies and building a sustainable EV supply chain in the UK. The financial backing will accelerate the scale-up of Altilium’s cutting-edge recycling facilities, including the construction of the UK’s first industrial-scale recycling plant in Teesside.
Altilium’s complete battery circularity model offers a unique customer proposition in the UK, covering zero-carbon EV battery collection, black mass recycling, and chemical refining. The goal is to produce 30,000 MT of battery-ready CAM, meeting 20 percent of the UK’s requirements by 2030 and significantly contributing to a more sustainable future.
