Altilium, a UK-based clean technology group focused on supporting the transition to net zero, is pleased to announce that it has secured grant support from the Department for Business and Trade and the UK government’s new DRIVE35 programme, delivered through the Advanced Propulsion Centre, for rapid development of an innovative low carbon transport solution for end-of-life EV batteries.

The funding will fast-track the development of a functioning prototype designed specifically for safe, sustainable and cost-efficient collection and transportation of large volumes of end-of-life EV batteries, supporting the development of a circular economy for EV batteries in the UK.

The £1m project forms a critical pillar of Altilium’s full battery circularity model, the first of its kind in the UK. By integrating safe, low‑carbon collection with its proprietary EcoCathode™ recycling technology, Altilium is able to offer customers a complete end-to-end solution, where spent batteries are collected, then shredded to produce black mass, before chemical refining into battery-ready materials, including graphite, battery metal salts, p-CAM and CAM.

Dr Christian Marston, Altilium COO, commented: “We’re grateful for the APC’s continued support for innovative zero emission technologies and the UK government’s commitment to building a globally competitive EV supply chain. With this new DRIVE35 funding we are building the next phase of our full battery circularity model, reducing potential barriers to high collection rates needed to support robust recovery and recycling and ensuring critical resources remain in the UK.”

In the UK, the volume of end-of-life batteries is projected to be around 1.4 million packs per year by 2040. With accelerating EV adoption and stricter recycling regulations, an efficient and safe collection and transportation system will be critical to maximize reuse and recycling of this growing volume of EOL batteries.

Studies estimate that on average, transportation represents 41% of the total cost of recycling and contributes up to 3.5% of life cycle GHG emissions for a recycled battery.

Together with the launch of recell.store, the UK’s first marketplace for old EV Batteries, the project will also help to ensure feed security for Altilium’s current and planned recycling plants, including its new ACT 3 facility in Plymouth. The cutting edge scale-up plant will recover critical battery materials from 24,000 EVs per year, following commissioning in late 2026.

 Altilium’s transport solution is one of 34 projects to share a £61.1 million investment, including £30.1 million of Demonstrate grant support. The investment is targeted at fast-start projects aimed at rapidly developing automotive products with a clear route to market.

This includes £30.1 million of Demonstrate grant support from the Department for Business and Trade and DRIVE35 programme, delivered through the APC, and matched by industry funding.

The investments come under the UK government’s DRIVE35 ‘Driving Research and Investment in Vehicle Electrification’ initiative, that will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of zero-emission vehicle manufacturing.