A coalition of European clean technology and transport organizations is calling on EU policymakers to establish dedicated measures for scaling battery recycling in the upcoming Circular Economy Act. The groups stress that recovering materials from retired electric vehicle packs is vital for securing critical minerals locally and mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities. Without strategic regulatory and financial support, Europe risks falling behind in building the processing capacity needed for an influx of end-of-life batteries.
October 29, 2026·CleanTechnica·Transport & Environment
After rapidly electrifying its municipal transit fleets over the past decade, China is reevaluating policies that encourage repurposing degraded packs for stationary storage. Persistent safety concerns and the falling cost of new cells have made direct recycling increasingly attractive over second-life cascaded use. The policy shift offers early lessons for global markets preparing to manage their own influx of retired electric vehicle packs.
Rivian and Redwood Materials are scaling up their partnership to process and recycle electric vehicle battery materials directly from Rivian's manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois. The updated agreement focuses on recovering scrap and end-of-life battery packs to feed critical minerals back into the domestic supply chain. The expanded effort could also reach additional Rivian facilities across the country as production ramps up.
Rivian and Redwood Materials have expanded their collaboration to recycle manufacturing scrap alongside end-of-life battery packs from the automaker's electric vehicles. Under the agreement, Redwood will extract valuable critical minerals including lithium, cobalt, and nickel to feed back into the domestic supply chain. The initiative aims to reduce cell production waste while establishing a localized closed-loop system for future battery manufacturing.
General Motors is expanding efforts to reclaim critical minerals from end-of-life battery packs to feed into production of new electric vehicles. By recycling raw materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, the automaker aims to lower production costs and reduce reliance on virgin mining. The initiative forms a key part of GM's strategy to build a sustainable, domestic battery supply chain in North America.
Singapore-based startup NEU Battery Materials has closed a $7.6-million financing round to accelerate the commercialization of its electrochemical recycling process for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Backed by SGInnovate and Shift4Good, the investment will support expanding operations to recover battery-grade lithium with minimal environmental impact. The development comes as global automakers increasingly embrace LFP chemistry, driving urgency for cost-effective recycling methods tailored to lower-value cathode materials.
October 21, 2026·Charged EVs·NEU Battery Materials
Rivian is enhancing its battery sustainability efforts by establishing comprehensive programs for recycling manufacturing scrap and repurposing end-of-life EV batteries. The company aims to divert materials from landfills, utilize recycled content in new packs, and explore second-life applications for energy storage, moving towards a circular economy for its battery components.
Norwegian firm Vianode and Italian battery maker FAAM have achieved a breakthrough by demonstrating the successful recycling of anode-grade graphite from FAAM's battery production scrap. This innovation promises to improve the sustainability of EV battery manufacturing by reintroducing recovered materials into the supply chain. The companies are now collaborating to scale up this process for industrial application, aiming for broader integration of recycled graphite in new batteries.
SK Battery America (SKBA) is expanding its collaboration with Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) to implement a closed-loop recycling program for battery manufacturing scrap. This initiative will process waste from SKBA's two EV battery production facilities in Commerce, Georgia, which together boast a substantial 22 GWh annual capacity. The partnership aims to recover valuable materials, supporting sustainable battery production within the US.
Leading European industry associations, T&E, European Metals, and RECHARGE, are pressing EU lawmakers to integrate key primary and recycled battery materials, alongside critical midstream components, into the forthcoming Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA). Their joint appeal aims to bolster the continent's domestic battery supply chain, reducing reliance on external sources. This move is crucial for scaling up EV production and ensuring the availability of essential battery ingredients within the EU.
Renewance, a company specializing in the end-of-life management of EV and energy storage batteries, has adopted an innovative container solution to address the complexities of shipping damaged power units. This new approach from Obexion AG significantly cuts down on costs and handling time associated with transporting potentially hazardous batteries, which are typically restricted to one per container.
A recent symposium hosted by Americase brought together experts to discuss critical aspects of electric vehicle battery lifecycle management. The event featured live demonstrations of battery failure testing, alongside in-depth sessions covering safe transport, efficient storage, and sustainable recycling methods for EV batteries.
Electrified Materials (EMCO), a recycling subsidiary of American Resources, has announced its intent to acquire Blackion, a company focused on lithium-ion battery lifecycle management and critical materials. This all-stock deal aims to strengthen EMCO's capabilities in the battery recycling sector, integrating Blackion's expertise into its operations.
September 30, 2026·Charged EVs·Electrified Materials
General Motors announced a significant step in sustainable EV manufacturing, confirming it's now integrating recycled battery materials into the production of new electric vehicles. This initiative aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its Cadillac and Chevrolet EV lineups while bolstering a circular economy for critical battery components.
Porsche is pioneering sustainable battery production by successfully implementing a closed-loop recycling process for end-of-life EV batteries. This initiative allows the automaker to extract valuable materials and manufacture new cathodes, significantly reducing its reliance on virgin raw materials for its future electric vehicles.
Porsche, in collaboration with battery recycling specialist Cylib, has successfully produced a new EV battery cell using cathode materials entirely sourced from recycled end-of-life battery packs. This breakthrough demonstrates the potential for a more circular economy in EV manufacturing, significantly reducing reliance on virgin materials for critical components.
Despite a previous hiccup with Ascend Elements, a key battery recycling facility in Georgia is back on track under new ownership. This development is set to provide a vital domestic source of lithium carbonate, bolstering the U.S. electric vehicle supply chain and easing concerns about raw material availability.
A new, OEM-led initiative is launching across Canada to streamline the recovery of end-of-life electric vehicle batteries. This program provides crucial pathways for recycling, repurposing, or safe disposal, ensuring compliance and sustainability for the growing EV fleet.
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Princeton NuEnergy a $50 million grant to establish a cathode-to-cathode lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Commerce, Georgia. This significant investment aims to bolster domestic battery material recovery, enabling the rejuvenation of nickel-based lithium-ion battery manufacturing scrap.
Canada has made significant investments in EV battery manufacturing and critical mineral extraction, but a crucial piece of the puzzle is still missing: a comprehensive national recycling strategy. Developing this infrastructure is essential to create a circular economy for EV batteries, transforming waste into valuable resources and establishing a thriving domestic industry. This move would not only bolster Canada's economic independence but also reinforce its commitment to sustainable EV adoption.
Tesla is significantly expanding its in-house, closed-loop battery recycling operations across the United States. This strategic move aims to recover critical raw materials from spent EV batteries, preventing them from ending up in landfills. The company's goal is for its recycling output to eventually rival the total raw material production from North American mining, securing a more sustainable supply chain for its battery manufacturing.
In a move to bolster its domestic supply chain for electric vehicle batteries and reduce reliance on foreign entities, the U.S. Commerce Department has imposed new restrictions on the export of certain used critical minerals. This policy aims to ensure that valuable materials from recycled batteries remain within the country for future EV production.
UK-based clean-tech firm Altilium has secured its first patent from the UK Intellectual Property Office for its innovative EcoCathode battery recycling process. This patent, titled "Material Recovery Method and Use," protects the company's proprietary method as it moves from pilot operations to commercial-scale production. The technology aims to more efficiently recover critical materials from used EV batteries.
A new competition challenges university students to develop innovative and practical recycling or reuse strategies for retired energy technologies, including EV batteries. This initiative aims to find sustainable solutions for components and materials, preventing them from ending up in landfills and promoting a circular economy.
The European Union's Circular Economy Act seeks to enhance the region's recycling capabilities, particularly for end-of-life EV batteries. By recovering essential materials from used products, Europe aims to secure a sustainable and resilient supply of critical minerals vital for its electric vehicle industry.
The nascent advanced battery recycling industry is encountering significant hurdles as two prominent facilities in the United States recently ceased operations. These closures highlight the challenges in scaling up novel recycling technologies crucial for a sustainable EV battery supply chain.
Moment Energy has swiftly launched a new facility dedicated to repurposing electric vehicle batteries, claiming it to be the largest of its kind globally. This rapid deployment of manufacturing capacity for second-life EV batteries underscores a growing focus on sustainable energy storage solutions. The company aims to extend the lifecycle of EV batteries by adapting them for various energy storage applications.
