UK Test Shows Recycled EV Cells Perform Like New!

UK tests show recycled EV cathodes match new ones, fueling a shift in Europe

14 May 2025

Recycled electric vehicle battery materials have matched the performance of newly mined inputs in UK tests, offering fresh evidence that circular production could support Europe’s emerging battery industry.

Altilium and the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) said they produced cells in May using nickel, manganese and cobalt sourced entirely from end-of-life batteries. The performance gap with cells made from virgin materials was reported at under 1 per cent.

The result challenges concerns that recycled cathode materials may limit cell quality. An adviser close to the project said: “Recycled materials are no longer a fallback, they’re a viable first choice.”

The findings come as EU rules raise minimum recycled content requirements for batteries by 2031, increasing pressure on manufacturers to secure stable supplies of secondary materials. Several carmakers are assessing whether recycled cathodes can be integrated into future European production lines.

Altilium’s process replaces high-temperature smelting with a lower-energy chemical route designed to cut emissions and reduce reliance on imported raw materials. The approach aligns with policy aims to localise parts of the battery supply chain and curb exposure to commodity price swings.

Analysts say interest in circular manufacturing has grown as regulatory incentives and industrial policy steer investment towards lower-carbon production. Industry groups argue that the shift from pilot facilities to commercial deployment will depend on access to sufficient volumes of used batteries and the build-out of collection networks.

Scalability remains a constraint, but the positive test data has strengthened expectations that recycled materials will play a larger role in regional supply chains. The UK trial adds to a growing body of evidence that performance and sustainability objectives can be met simultaneously, though commercial adoption will hinge on cost, feedstock availability and long-term policy support.