LG·GM US Joint Venture to Recycle Used Batteries and Raw Materials

Electric vehicle battery pack made by Ultium Cells, a joint venture between LG Energy Solution and General Motors (GM). Photo by LG Energy Solution

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] Ultium Cells, a joint venture established by LG Energy Solution and GM to supply electric vehicle batteries in the United States, has decided to recycle waste batteries and raw materials generated during the manufacturing process.

According to LG Energy Solution on the 12th, the joint venture signed a waste battery recycling contract with Li-Cycle, considered the largest battery recycling company in North America. Under this contract, various battery raw materials such as cobalt, nickel, lithium, graphite, copper, manganese, and aluminum from waste batteries generated during cell production can be recycled. Among the raw materials, 95% can be reused in the production of new battery cells or related industries.

According to the company, the 'hydrometallurgical' process for recycling battery raw materials can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30% compared to existing processes. This recycling process will be applied exclusively to Ultium Cells starting at the end of this year. Prior to this, LG Energy Solution has been conducting various collaborations to recycle waste batteries at other factories such as in Poland, Europe, and Ochang, Korea.

Industry sources expect the global waste battery recycling market to grow more than tenfold from $1.5 billion in 2019 to $18.1 billion by 2030. Lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles have high energy density, and even after their performance declines post-use, raw materials can be extracted again or reused as energy storage systems (ESS). LG Energy Solution recently introduced an electric vehicle charging ESS system made from recycled waste batteries at its Ochang plant.

The company stated that it is establishing a regional integrated circular system centered on global battery production plants, creating a structure where waste batteries become battery raw materials again and are supplied. China plans to establish this circular system within this year, and Korea and Poland aim to have it in place by next year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.