Closing the Loop: How EV Battery Recycling Could Power a Circular Economy
Manage episode 498356816 series 3598799
What happens to electric vehicle batteries at the end of their life? The answer could help reshape not just battery recycling, but entire local economies.
In this episode of Balancing the Future, Micah and Chai speak with Jake Entwistle, Lead Engineer at Altilium Clean Technology, about the UK pilot plant that's pushing the boundaries of EV battery recycling. Together, they explore how high-efficiency recycling can help create circular economies, reduce reliance on mining, and meet growing regulatory demands.
They dig into the technical challenges of processing black mass: the powdered remains of shredded batteries, and explain why materials like nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite are so valuable to recover. From advanced hydrometallurgical methods to the role of EU regulations and the rise of battery passports, the conversation touches on every aspect of this emerging industry.
LINKS
- Jake Entwistle on LinkedIn
- Altilium Clean Technology Website
- METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions Website
- METTLER TOLEDO Laboratory Solutions on LinkedIn
- Balancing The Future Podcast Website
- Micah Schweizer on LinkedIn
- Chai Nussbaumer on LinkedIn
SOURCES
Energizing Change: How Batteries Drive the Green Transition – Balancing the Future
Trends in electric car markets – International Energy Agency
Is LFP More Expensive Than NMC Batteries? - Cell Saviors
Recent progress and hurdles in cathode recycling for Li-ion batteries - ScienceDirect
The economic and technical challenges of LFP battery recycling – NEU Battery Materials
The European Green Deal – European Commission
From waste to value: the potential for battery recycling in Europe - European Federation for Transport and Environment
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Join Micah Schweizer and new host Chai Nussbaumer on Balancing the Future as they dive into the innovations shaping our world. From the potential of hydrogen in powering a greener planet, to the rise of GLP-1s in weight loss, and the frontier of microbiome-based treatments, they explore the science that's transforming our lives.
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18 episodes