Ascend Elements announced Monday that a basic agreement is now in place between itself and Honda Motor Company, Ltd., with expectations to collaborate on the procurement of recycled lithium-ion battery materials for Honda electric vehicles in North America.
Use of the recycled battery materials in new EV batteries, officials say, can “dramatically reduce” the carbon footprint of electric vehicles.
In a written statement from Mike O’Kronley, the CEO of Ascend Elements noted Honda is aiming for zero environmental impact by 2050, and that sourcing recycled battery materials for its EV’s is “a huge part of that.”
Ascend Elements has recycled used lithium-ion batteries for the American Honda Motor Company since 2021.
This new agreement serves as an important step toward the creation of a closed-loop supply chain for recycled battery materials: including lithium, nickel and cobalt. And this measure leverages efficiencies and environmental benefits that Ascend Elements patented with its Hydro-to-Cathode synthesis process. The company’s commercial products frequently include recycled lithium, nickel and cobalt, as well as a sustainable cathode precursor and cathode active materials — both pulled from used lithium-ion batteries and gigafactory manufacturing scrap supply.