Building a Sustainable EV Future Through Industrial-Scale Battery Recycling
The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is accelerating. According to Stratview Research, more than 60 million EVs are already on the roads worldwide, and by 2030, that number is projected to soar past 250 million. This shift marks a cornerstone in the global transition to cleaner transport, yet it brings with it an urgent challenge: what happens to the batteries when they reach end-of-life?
Without large-scale recycling infrastructure, the world could face more than 1 billion tons of cumulative lithium-ion battery waste by 2030. This isn’t just a waste management issue; it’s a resource crisis. EV batteries are built using critical raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt, which are expensive, finite, and often sourced through environmentally and socially challenging means.
Turning Waste into Opportunity
Leading the transition from waste to resource, Recyclus Group is redefining EV battery recycling. Operational at an industrial scale since July 2023, Recyclus is managing the growing wave of end-of-life batteries head-on through our advanced lithium-ion recycling facility in Wolverhampton.
Unlike many recyclers still in development or at pilot stage, Recyclus’ system is fully operational, commercially active, and capable of processing a wide range of battery chemistries – including burnt, damaged, and failed EV packs that others cannot handle safely.
Working closely with electric vehicle manufacturers, we’re recovering black mass, a material rich in lithium, cobalt, nickel, and manganese, transforming used batteries into reusable resources. Every tonne of black mass Recyclus produces reduces the need for new mining, cuts emissions, and helps the UK strengthen its domestic supply of critical minerals.
A Global Market Poised for Growth
Globally, the EV battery recycling market is worth roughly $500 million today, and is projected to reach $3 billion by 2035, growing at an impressive 26% CAGR. Yet, despite Asia-Pacific currently commanding nearly 78% of the global market, with China leading at 65%, Europe is rapidly catching up.
New EU Battery Regulations, taking effect from 2025, will require recyclers to recover at least 90% of cobalt, copper, nickel, and lead, as well as 50% of lithium, by 2027. As these standards tighten, Recyclus’ early investment in scalable, high-efficiency recycling technology positions us ahead of the curve.
The Power of Recovery
To understand the scale of opportunity, consider a single Tesla Model 3’s 75 kWh battery. It contains roughly 12 kg of lithium, 50 kg of nickel, and 4.5 kg of cobalt – materials that can be recovered and reintroduced into new batteries through sustainable recycling.
Recyclus’ proprietary systems achieve high recovery efficiencies, helping to close the loop on the EV supply chain. This not only reduces landfill and pollution but also lessens the UK’s dependency on overseas mining and supports the growth of a sustainable circular economy.
A Circular Future, Powered by Innovation
At Recyclus, the mission is clear: to transform the EV battery end-of-life challenge into a renewable source of critical materials. By providing a safe, scalable, and sustainable recycling solution, Recyclus is helping the UK and its partners transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.
As the EV industry continues to grow, so too will the responsibility to recover, reuse, and repurpose.