Altilium Clean Technology, based in Plymouth, UK, specializes in transforming end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries into high-quality materials for new battery production. The company’s mission centers on establishing sustainable, circular supply chains for critical battery minerals while reducing carbon emissions in the automotive sector. Through advanced recycling processes, Altilium recovers valuable materials from used EV batteries and manufacturing scrap, supporting both environmental sustainability and industrial efficiency in the UK’s growing electric vehicle market.
Battery Technology
The company’s proprietary EcoCathode™ process represents a significant advancement in battery recycling technology. This hydrometallurgical technique processes used EV batteries and gigafactory waste to produce battery-grade metal salts and cathode active materials (CAM). The process achieves remarkable recovery rates: 95% for critical minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt, and 99% for graphite used in anode production.
The EcoCathode™ technology delivers multiple advantages over traditional recycling methods:
- 20% reduction in production costs compared to standard CAM manufacturing
- 24% lower emissions than conventional hydrometallurgical recycling
- 60% decrease in sodium sulfate byproducts
- Versatility in processing various battery chemistries, including LFP, NMC, and LCO
Independent lifecycle analysis demonstrates that materials produced through Altilium’s recycling process can reduce climate impact by up to 74% compared to primary materials sourced from traditional supply chains.
Recent Projects
In January 2024, Altilium began operations at their new ACT 2 recycling facility in Plymouth, capable of processing 300kg of black mass waste daily. The company also initiated development of their largest planned facility in Teesside, designed to handle battery waste from 150,000 EVs annually and produce 30,000 MT of low-carbon CAM.
Altilium recently partnered with Jaguar Land Rover in an Advanced Propulsion Centre-backed research project to validate battery cells manufactured from recycled materials. The project includes cell manufacturing at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre using materials from Altilium’s Devon facilities.
Investors
SQM Lithium Ventures, the corporate venture arm of Chilean lithium producer Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM), serves as the primary investor in Altilium Clean Technology. Their total investment reaches $12 million, consisting of an initial $2.57 million followed by an additional $9.43 million during the Series A financing round. Marubeni Corporation recently contributed $5 million in Series B funding to support the Teesside facility development.
Business Details
Location: Plymouth, United Kingdom
Additional Facilities: ACT 2 Recycling Facility – Plymouth, EV Battery Technology Centre – Devon, Planned ACT 4 Plant – Teesside
Website: https://altilium.tech
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/altilium-clean-technology