Northvolt produces first recycled battery cell

The battery cell is produced with 100 percent recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt. The performance of the cell is on par with cells produced with freshly-mined metals.

The cell is developed at Northvolt Labs in Västerås in Sweden.

“What we have shown here is a clear pathway to closing the loop on batteries and that there exists a sustainable, environmentally-preferable alternative to conventional mining in order to source raw materials for battery production. The recycling process can recover up to 95 percent of the metals in a battery to a level of purity on par with fresh virgin material", says Emma Nehrenheim, Northvolts Chief Environmental Officer and head of Revolt.

Northvolt plan to build a factory for producing recycled battery cells, Revolt Ett, adjacent to the batteryplant Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå in the north of Sweden. The recycling plant will receive  incoming material for recycling from two sources: end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles and production scrap from Northvolt Ett.

Revolt Ett will recycle 125.000 tons of batteries per year. Contstruction of the factory begins in Q1 2022 and operations in 2023.