Axeon receives share of EV battery-recycling research fund

The company, which designs and produces Li-ion battery systems, is one of six British companies to receive a share of nearly £500,000 funding from the Technology Strategy Board for feasibility studies into the recycling and reuse of batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.

As well as researching the recycling process, the project will look at how to determine end of life, which is said to be a major issue with automotive batteries for manufacturers and consumers.

The Axeon-led project, which looks into the economic viability of automotive-battery recycling in the UK, involves Oxford Brookes University as a partner. It will define the context in which battery recycling must take place, including the legal issues, as well as develop the recycling process and work out the business model for recycling end-of-life batteries.

According to Axeon, the project ultimately aims to develop a UK battery-recycling industry for end-of-life automotive batteries, which is entirely non-existent at the moment.

Axeon and Oxford Brookes University will look to involve other organisations throughout the UK automotive supply chain in order to create a viable and sustainable business model for battery recycling.

The company, whose corporate headquarters is in Scotland, believes that a battery-recycling industry will improve environmental efficiency, create jobs in the UK automotive supply chain, boost materials supply and ensure that materials are dealt with safely. Axeon will also develop a thorough and statistically robust process for determining when batteries have reached their end of life and are ready to be recycled.

‘The issue of end-of-life for batteries in hybrid and electric vehicles is incredibly important to OEMs and car buyers alike, particularly in respect of the economic and environmental considerations,’ said Lawrence Berns, Axeon chief executive officer. ‘Our project will help to define industry standards and best practice for battery recycling, which will be key to the mass commercialisation of battery-powered vehicles.’